./   ..       .    -     -    -  -  .    AcvoC 


Presented    to    Princeton    Theological   Seminary 
By  the  t^ev.  Wendell  Prime,  X^S^, 

To  be  Kept  Always  as  a  Separate  Collection. 


THE    PERNICIOUS    EFFECTS     OF     INTEMPERANCE 

IN    THE    USE  OF    ARDENT  SPIRITS,  AND 

THE  REMEDY  FOR  THAT  EVIL. 


SEEMON^ 


DELIVERED  AT  THE  QPENIMG 

OF     THE  i^ 

PRESBYTERY    OF    LONG-ISLAND, 

AT 

Auqiiebogiiey  Nov.  5,  I81L 

.) 

BY  NATHANIEL  S. 'PRLME. 

[published  by  request.] 


BROOKLYJ^': 
PRINTED  BY  ALDEN  SPOONER, 

1812. 


ADVERTISEMENT 


INTEMPERANCE  is  a  great  and  growing  evil 
The  twit tr  oj  Ihe  Jollowing  discourse  has  long  viezced 
its  prevalence  and  increase  with  anxious  concern.  But 
his  attention  was  never  effectually  aicakened  to  this  sub- 
jcct  until  the  last  summer.  At  that  time  Dr.  RusJis 
Inquiry  fell  into  his  hands,  by  zvliich  he  zvas  induced  to 
inquire  zvhat  he,  as  an  individual,  could  do  to  check  the 
progress  of  this  szveeping  pestilence.  After  some  iveeks 
of  occaJonal  meditation  and  reading  upon  tlic  subject^ 
theplanofthefollozving  discourse  suggested  itselj  to  his 
mind;  ivhich  lie  resolved  to  improve  Jor  tlie  good  of 
the  Congregation  in  zvhich  lie  statedly  labors,  Tliis  zvas 
accordingly  done,  and  the  effects  toere  such  as  to  encour- 
age him  to  deliver  it  as  stated  in  the  title  page.  The 
members  of  the  Presbytery  being  determined  to  set  their 
faces  as  a  flint  against  this  crying  sin,  and  to  cze^'t 
themselves  vigorously  for  its  suppression  ;  and  li^  ping 
that  some  good  effects  might  result  Jrom  the  circulation 
(f  this  discourse,  zvere  disposed  to  countenance  it  a  publi- 
cation. In  deference  to  the  opinions  of  Ids  Reverend 
Fathers  and  Bi^ethren,  the  zvriter  nozv  submits  it  to  the 
putdic,  not  as  a  subject  oj  criticism,  but  oJ  serious  comid- 
('.ration  and  experiment. 


Huntington,  April  US1£J. 


A  SERMON. 


Prov.  xxiii.  29 — So,    inclusive, 

29.  Who  hath  woe?  Who  hath  sorrow?  Who  '  ';  i^ntcji- 
lions?     Who  hath  babbling?      Who  hath  wounds  with  iUt  cause? 

Who  hath  redness  of  eyes  ? 

30.  They  that  tarry  long  at  the  wine  ;  they  that  go  to  seek  mix- 
ed wine. 

3 1 .  Look  not  thou  upon  the  wine  when  it  is  red,  when  it  giveth 
his  color  in  the  cup,  when  it  moveth  itself  aright. 

32.  At  the  last  it  bitetli  like  a  serpent  and  stingeth  like  an  adder. 

33.  Thine  eyes  shall  behold  strange  women,  and  thine  heart  shall 
alter  perverse  things. 

34.  Yea,  thou  shalt  be  as  he  that  lieth  down  in  the  midst  of  the 
sea,  or  as  he  that  lieth  upon  the  lop  of  a  mast. 

S5.  They  have  stricken  ma,  shalt  thou  say,  and  I  was  not  sick  ; 
they  have  beaten  nie  and  I  felt  it  not ;  when  shall  1  awake  ?  I  will 
seek  it  yet  again. 

IVIaN  possesses  an  exalted  station  in  the  scale  of  be- 
ing. The  form  and  other  peculiarities  of  his  body,  at 
once  inspire  all  other  animals  with  fear  and  veneration. 
His  person  is  comely — his  countenance  expressive — his 
powers  noble,  and  his  natural  posture  erect.  Endowed 
with  an  immortal,  mtelligent  mind,  he  is  capable  of 
knowing,  loving  and  serving  his  Creator  and  enjoying 
endless  felicity. 


But  alas  !  how  great  the  change  when  he  hes  pros- 
trate on  the  earih,  dispossessed  of  rea;5on  and  the  power 
oiloco-motion,  by  an  intoxicating  draught.  What 
scene  more  base,  abject  and  disgusting.  Never  was  a 
brute  guilty  of  so  great  prostitution.  Such  an  act  de- 
bases a  iiian  to  the  level  of  a  worm. 

Man  IS  prone  to  sin  as  the  sparks  fly  upward,  and  dif- 
ferent men  are  addicted  to  different  vices.  But  the  state 
of  tio  sinner  appears  so  h:.peless  as  that  of  a  confirmed 
drunkard.  The  thief — the  liar — the  adulterer^ — the  mur- 
derer have  their  hearing  and  the  exercise  of  reason  at  all 
times.  Therefore,  though  one  admonition  be  disregarded, 
we  mav  fondly  hope  the  next  will  have  the  desired  ef- 
fect. But  a  drunken  man  exf)eriences  a  total  suspension 
of  all  nis  powers,  both  corporeal  and  mental.  You  may 
reprove  him,  but  the  sound  will  fall  on  a  dead  organ.  You 
may  chastise  him,  but  he  will  be  insensible  of  the  correc- 
tion. Iheij  have  beaten  me,  and  I  jelt  it  not.  And 
what  hope  can  you  entertain  for  such  a  person,  when 
with  the  first  dawn  of  returning  reason  he  cries  out  xvhen 
shall  I  awake  ?  and  in  the  same  breath  replies  1  zvill 
seek  it  yet  again. 

This  vile  course  is  pursued  by  multitudes,  leading  to 
poverty,  infamy,  death  and  hell.  Kings  of  the  eartl? 
have  slam  their  thousands,  but  ardent  spirits  their  tens 
of  thousands.  '*  Plague,  pestilence  and  famine'*  hrtvc 
been  a  curse  to  the  human  race,  but  ardent  spirit  slmvo 
been  a  heavier  curse.  The  yellow  fever  has  for  a  season 
laid  waste  mm\y  of  our  populous  cities,  but  the  greater 
part  of  the  iuhaJ)iiants  have  taken  the  alarm  at  an  ear- 
ly period  and  fled  from  the  fatal  contagion.  But  strong 
drink  has  spread  its  devastations  throngliout  the  country. 
In  every  city,  town,  village  and  neighliorhood  we  behold 
its  dreadful  effects,  and  multitudes  instead  of  being  warn- 
ed by  tlie  example  of  otliers  to  tly  from  the  pestilen- 
tial atmosphere,  earnestly  seek  and  greedily  inhale  the 
deadly  poison. 

It  is  supposed  by  some  that  more  persons  die  annual- 
ly in  the  United  States  in  consequence  of  the  use  of  ar- 
dent spirits  than  by  any  diijease  incidental  lo  huaiiin  na- 


ture.  Be  this  as  it  nuiy,  its  cfl'ects,  so  far  as  tliey  are 
luiiversaliy  acknowledged,  are  snilicient  to  warrant  tlie 
inquiry,  what  can  be  done  to  stop  or  even  chtck  tlie  ra- 
vages ot  this  destrosing  fiend.  ? 

With  a  view  to  this  question,  your  attention  has  been 
solicited  to  tlie  words  of  the  text.  In  that  interesting 
portion  of  the  holy  seriplures,  two  leading  sentiinculs  are 
presented  for  particuhir  consideration,  viz. 

Ihe  perfiicwus  effects  of  intemperance,  in  the  use  of 
strong  driuk — And 

1  he  remedy  Jar  this  evil. 

The  term  ardent  spirits^  in  its  common  acceptation, 
is  a()plied  exclusively  to  distilled  liquors.  Some  ferment- 
ed liquors,  it  drank  to  great  excess,  v^ili  produce  inebria- 
tion. But  few  are  willing  or  even  able  to  drink  a  sulfi- 
cient  quantity  to  intoxicate  themselves,  or  if  1  hey  do  the 
eilects  are  not  so  alarming  nor  tlie  consequent  danger  so 
gieat.  The  present  design,  however,  is  to  discourage 
the  intemperate  use  of  all  liquors  capable  of  producing 
intoxication. 

i^y  intemperance,  as  the  term  may  occur  in  the  ensu- 
ing discussion,  is  meant  not  only  drinking  to  intoxication, 
but  also  the  use  of  the  smallest  quantity  of  spiritmis  liquor 
when   it  is  not  necessary  tor  the  preservation   of  life  or 
stealth. 

Let  us  now  attend  to  some  of  the  pernicious  e/i'ects  of 
intemperance. 

J.  intemperance  in  its  advanced  stages  produces  at 
least  a  temporary  suspension  of  the  exercise  both  of  tlie 
corporeal  and  mental  laculties.  AVhen  a  man  has  drunk- 
en to  intoxication,  his  bodily  strength  entirely  forsakes 
him;  every  binew  is  relaxed  — every  joint  unhinged — 
iiis  head  drops  on  his  shouhler — he  liills  prostrate  (  n  the 
ground.  This  is  not  all.  fiis  iinelligent  mind  is  e<]ualiy 
(lebased.  Reason,  that  boasted  principle,  which  so  em- 
inently distinguishes  man  from  the  brutes,  has  deserted 
her  wonted  seat.  The  undeiManding  is  toi:tlly  daiken- 
ed,  and  the  will  ceases  fr  :m  all  regular  operati'^n>^.  Is  it 
possible  that  an  immortr.l  ujind  inhabits  that  debased  and 
worthK^ss  carcabc  r      Yes  !  but  boM»  are  al;kc^  in^fUMhi'.. 


6 

Should  you  beat  liim,  he  would  not  feel  it  ;  and  should 
hell  open  her  voracious  jaws  to  receive  him  bodily,  he 
would  not  realize  his  danger  nor  could  he  flee  away. 

Nor  is  this  effect  in  all  cases  merely  temporary.  In 
many  instances,  it  is  in  a  great  degree  permanent.  Ha- 
bitual iutemperance  produces  eflects  of  this  kind  upon 
some,  which  the  most  powerful  medicines  and  abstemi- 
ous living  would  never  remove.  Ttie  joints  are  stiffen- 
ed— the  sinews,  contracted — the  nerves  enfeebled — the 
memory  impaired— -the  intellect  destroyed.  In  short 
the  habitual  drunkard,  long  before  he  arrives  at  the  me- 
ridian of  life,  exhibits  an  exact  portrait,  both  in  body  and 
mind,  of  decrepid  old  age.*  1  am  acquainted  with  sev- 
eral men,  who,  to  use  a  cant  phrase,  are  so  completely 
soaked  with  rum,  that  they  would  never  be  sober  again, 
should  they  never  drink  another  drop  of  intoxicating  li- 
quor. 

2.  Various  diseases  of  the  body  are  contracted  by  in- 
temperance. Some  are  the  immediate  effects  of  one  fit  of 
drunkenness.  Tlius  Solomon,  after  enquiring  IF/io 
hath  ivoe  ?  Who  hath  sorrozv  ?  Who  hath  contentions  ^ 
IVho  hath  babbling  P  Who  hath  zvounds  ivithout  cause  ? 
Who  hath  redness  of  eyes  ?  immediately  answers,  1  hey 
that  tarry  long  at  the  zvine  :  They  that  go  to  seek  mixed 
zcine.  When  men  are  in  their  cups,  they  become  cr.;^.- 
tentious.  Tiiese  disputes  seldom  terminate  without 
leaving  sad  mementos  of  their  having  taken  place  — 
Vv^liat  a  wretched,  and  at  the  same  time  disgusting,  object 
is  a  man  just  recovering  from  a  fit  of  drunkenness  !  His 
!)^dy  emaciated — his  whole  nervous  system  in  commo- 
<i  'U— his  countenance  the  picture  of  grief  and  horror — 
his  face  not  nnfrequcntly  disfigurc^d  with  wounds— his 
clothes  besjiiinkled   with  blood,  and   his   eyes  like   two 


'  "The  fibres  of  the  Gtoniach  and  bmvcls  are  contracted  ;  absccc- 
s — .gani^scnc — aiul  schirri  are  fovindjn  the  viscera.  The  bron- 
( iiial  vessels  arc  contracted — the  blood-vessels  and  tendons  in  many 
parts  arc  more  or  Icbs  osMfied  and  even  the  hair  of  the  liead  possess- 
es a  crispness. — -They  impair  the  meinory,  d&biiitatc  the  undcr- 
iUnding  and  pcivcri  ihe  rnoral  facully,'* 

ni?,  7?r5sr, 


orbs  of  fire  inserted  in   sockets  black   as   the   tents   of 
Kedar. 

Tlie  etlects  of  one  paroxism  are  sometimes  still  more 
serious.  I'lie  unhappy  subject  not  unfrequenlly  tails 
down  in  the  highway,  or  under  a  hedge,  and  lies  expo- 
sed to  all  the  inclemency  of  a  vvinter*s  nii^ht.  The  con- 
serjuence  is  some  acute  disease,  or  the  loss  of  a  limb,  if 
not  the  loss  of  hte.  Some  of  these  consequences  are 
not  confined  to  those  who  drink  to  intoxication.  A  hot 
sling,  in  a  cold  day,  has  laid  tlie  foundation  of  many  a 
distressing  complaint.  Impelled  by  the  severity  of  the 
weather,  men  drink  tlie  inviting  cordial  and  by  expo- 
sure to  the  cold,  contiact  diseases  which  confine  them 
for  weeks  and  months,  or  suddenly  translate  them  from 
lime  to  eternity. 

But  a  continued  habit  of  intemperance  does  of  itself 
induce  many  distressing  diseases.  This  is  the  testimony 
of  several  eminent  physicians.  Dr.  Rush  enumerates 
the  following  among  others  in  the  black  catalogue  ;  viz, 
dropsy — coiisumption — -jaundice — diseases  of  the  liver — 
diabetes — epilepsy — gout — cholic — palsy — apoplexy — 
and  madness.  All  intemperate  person^  are  peculiarly  li- 
able to  one  or  more  of  these  awful  diseases. 

Many  apprehend  no  danger  because  their  intemper- 
ancv  seldom  or  never  produces  intoxication.  But  this  is 
a  delusion.  The  habitual  use  of  ardent  spirits,  whether 
to  great  excess  or  not,  dots  predispose  the  liuman  system 
to  imbibe  disease.*    It  is  probable;  that  a  drunken  man  in 


*  "  Most  of  the  diseases  which  have  bceu  enumerated  are  of  a 
mortal  nature.  They  are  more  certainly  inckiccd  and  tcrniinutc 
more  speedily  in  death  when  spirits  are  taken  in  such  quantities,  and 
at  such  times,  as  to  produce  Ireciuent  intoxication  ;  but  it  may  serve 
to  remove  an  error  witli  which  some  intemperate  people  console 
themselves,  to  remark,  that  ardent  spirits  often  brinti;  on  fatal  diseas- 
es without  producinjjj  drunkenness.  I  have  known  many  persons 
destroyed  by  them  who  were  never  completely  intoxicated  during 
tlie  whole  course  of  their  lives."  Dr,  Rush, 

"The  stomachs  of  great  darm -drinkers  are  contracted  into  hall' 
the  common  natural  size,  svnd  JU'e  hard,  something  like  leather  tha'. 


8 

f  be  very  zenith  of  intoxication,  is  not  in  so  great  danger  of 
inlectirm  ;  but  the  moment  the  fumes  of  liquor  begin  to 
subside  and  he  begins  to  recover,  his  whole  system  is  so 
much  debihtated  r hat  he  fialls  an  easy  prey  to  the  d-  stroy- 
in,ii:  pestilence.  The  sentiment,  therefore,  that  ardent 
spirits  v»di  Ibrtify  against  contagion,  altho'  c  uwmon,  is 
entitled  to  no  credit.  It  is  a  doctrme  of  the  Devil,  and 
he  is  well  pleased  to  hear  it  preached  and  to  see  it  practi- 
sed. Doubtless  many  a  one  has  contracted  the  yellow- 
fever  and  other  contagious  diseases  in  consequence  oi 
having  drank  freely  of  that  liquor,  by  way  of  prevention. 
U\  when  exposed  to  contagion,  people  would  let  this  ac- 
cursed thing  alone,  and  support  their  natures  by  nutri- 
tious k)0(1,  they  would  find  it  a  better  antidote. 

3,  Many  of  the  most  disgraceful  crimes  are  the  effects 
of  intemperance.  Some  of  these  are  brought  to  view 
111  the  text.  Thine  eyes  shall  behold  straui^e  ivomeiiand 
ihinc  heart  shall  idler  perverse  things.  No  better  fuel 
can  you  afford  the  lusts  of  the  flesh  than  ardent  spirits. 
Hence  we  find  that  drunkenness  and  lewdness  usually 
go  hand  in  hand. 

This  is  true  with  respect  to  all  intemperate  men, 
whether  the}^  become  intoxicated  or  not.  But  few  who 
have  drank  a  gill  of  ardent  spirits  can  be  exposed  to  a 
scene  of  ^mall  temptation  without  becoming  adulterers 
in  the  sight  of  God.  This  may  be  safely  credited  in 
view  of  our  Savior's  declaration  Whosoever  looketh  upon 
a  zvovian  to  lust  after  her  hath  committed  adultery  alrea- 
dy with  her  in  his  heart. 

Profane  szvearing  usually  accompanies  intemperance. 
Many  who,  while  sober,  are  reputed  for  their  moral  con- 
versation, as  soon  as  they  become  heated  with  liquor, 
lose  all  government  of  their  tongues,  and  their  lips  utter 

has  been  held  to  the  fire,  the  consequence  of  which  is  loss  of  appe- 
tite, cind  a  wasthig  consumption.'*  JDr.  Hales. 

''  They  (distilled  liquors)  are,  above  all  things,  most  unwholesome, 
bcuii^  caiisiic  burning  spirits  ;  which  by  iniiaming  the  solids,  and 
thickening  the  fluids,  cause  obstructions  that  occasion  many  fatal 
diseases,  such  as  hectic  fevers,  jaundices;  dropsies,  8cc.  wliereby 
••.n::Uitudc5  aue  daily  destroyed.  Z)ii.  JfoFFM.iy, 


the  most  perverse  /Junius.  But  tlic  confirmed  drunkard 
is  renowned  for  profanity.  Mc  vseldom  opens  his  nioutli 
but  tiie  ih'st  breath  is  exhausted  in  spoutin:^  f  >rth  a  vol- 
ley of  oaths  and  curses  too  silly  to  be  uttered  l)y  a  inan 
of  common  sense,  and  too  blasphemous  to  be  repeated 
by  a  christian. 

The  two  vices  which  have  been  named,  are  the  only 
ones  which  are  clearly  pointed  out  in  the  text,  and  they 
may  be  consi<iered  as  those  most  usually  conn  'Cted  with 
intemperance.  But  as  Dr.  Rush  observes,  the  proper 
name  for  this  vice  "  is  legion,  for  it  conveys  into  the  soul 
a  host  of  vices  and  crimes."  lo  those  already  mention- 
ed may  be  added  fraud,  theft,  lyins,-,  perjury^  murder,  and 
many  others  equally  disgraceful  to  human  nature.  To 
this  point  the  authority  of  an  eminent  magistrate*  in  our 
country  will  now  be  cited.  In  a  charge  to  the  grand  jury 
upon  drunkenness  he  observes,  *'  1  believe  it  may  be  as- 
serted with  truth,  that  from  this  source  originate  almost 
all  the  enormities  that  produce  distress  in  private  families, 
and  the  most  destructive  outrages  on  the  public  peace. 
It  is  this  vice  that  makes  so  many  helpless  widows  and 
distressed  orphans — that  fills  our  streets  with  wandering 
beggars — that  crouds  the  sherifFs  dockets  with  execu- 
tions, and  is  productive  of  innumerable  quarrels,  assaults, 
batteries,  riots  and  man-slaughters.  Who  hath  woe  } 
(says  the  wise  man,)  Who  hath  sorrow,  &c.  I  de- 
clare in  this  public  manner,  and  with  the  most  solemn 
regard  to  truth,  that  I  do  not  recollect  an  instance 
since  my  being  concerned  in  the  administration  of  jus- 
tice, of  a  single  person  being  put  on  his  trial  for  man- 
slaughter,  which  did  not  originate  in  drunkenness  ;  and 
but  fezv  instances  of  trial  for  murder,  where  ttie  crime 
did  not  spring  from  tlie  same  unhappy  cause.  A  mo- 
ment's consideration  will  be  suflicient  to  convince  you, 
gentlemen,  that  the  various  breaches  of  the  peace  that 
arc  daily  brought  before  the  courts,  are  all  derived  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree  from  this  infamous  and  mischievous 
vice.'* 

*  Hon.  Jacob  Rush,  president  of  tlic  District  court  in  Pcnnsyh'ania, 
Vifl.  his  charp:^  to  the  p^rand  jury  of  Luzerne  eounty  in  1801. 

H 


10 

4.  Intemperance  produces  an  unquenchable  thirst  af- 
ter intoxicating  liquor,  which  usually  leads  to  an  infalli- 
ble perseverance  in  the  vice.  "  Habit  is  a  second  na- 
ture." Tiiis  maxim  is  verified  in  no  instance  more  clear- 
ly than  in  the  intemperate  use  of  ardent  spirits.  An  in- 
tern pej  ale  man,  after  a  number  of  years,  becomes  so 
much  addicfed  to  the  vice  that  he  would  not  experience 
so  much  inconvenience  at  the  loss  of  a  limb,  as  for  the 
want  of  intoxicating  liquor.  And  were  the  alternative 
submitted  to  his  choice,  he  would  rather  part  with  his 
right  hand  than  his  bottle.  A  habit  of  intemperance  is 
a  state  of  the  most  absolute  bondage.  When  a  man  has 
once  enlisted,  he  can  scarcely  hope  to  be  liberated  as 
long  as  life  endures.  Solomon  considered  the  situation 
of  such  a  one  as  perilous  as  of  him  that  lieth  doivn  in  the 
??ndsl  of  the  sea,  or  of  him  that  lieth  on  the  top  of  a  mast. 
As  the  former  is  liable  to  be  swallowed  up  in  the  raging 
billows,  and  the  latter  to  fall  and  be  dashed  in  pieces, 
so  the  drunkard  is  in  as  imminent,  if  not  immediate  dan 
ger  of  being  destroyed.  There  is  something  awfully 
sublime  in  the  expression  of  this  figure.  The  one  is  re- 
presented as  l;i^i7ig  down,  with  the  utmost  composure,  in 
the  midst  oj  the  sea — the  other  as  reclining  to  rest,  with- 
out the  sm.alle*t  apprehension  of  evil,  on  the  top  oJ  a  mast. 
So  the  drunkard  without  realizing  his  danger,  pursues 
his  course  of  pleasure  while  every  touch  of  the  fatal  cup 
rivets  his  chams — exhausts  his  hearths-blood — seals  his- 
death  w  arrant,  and  makes  him  fit  fuel  for  eternal  burn- 

Ardent  spirits  in  their  immediate  effects  upon  the 
throat  and  stomach  are  like  the  waters  of  the  briny 
ocean.  Instead  of  allaying,  they  inflame  the  thirst. — 
Hence  no  intemperate  man  can  confine  himself  to  the 
quantity  with  wluch  he  commenced  his  wicked  course. 
Daily  he  experiences  an  inci easing  thirst  which  calls  for 
an  additional  quantity  of  the  raging  livquid.*      The  first 


*  "  A  little  lowncss  of  spirits  requires  drops,  which  arc  readily 
taken  under  the  notion  of  physic  ;  drops  beget  drams,  and  drams  bc~ 
i,et  more  such,  until  they  come  to  be  without  weight  or  measure 


11 

inquiry  which  he  makes  after  the  return  of  speech  and 
reasoil  is  fpltrn  shall  I  awake  P  and  witliout  waiting  for 
an  answer  from  another  quarter,  he  rephes  /  kjUI  seek  it 
yet  agaifi.  The  consequence  is  that  sucIj  persons  usual- 
ly go  to  bed  drunk,  get  up  drunk,  are  drunk  while  sick, 
die  drunk,  and  go  drunk  to  hell. 

5.  Poverty  and  disgrace  are  the  common  efTects  of  in- 
temperance. There  are  so  many  facts  within  the  know- 
Jedge  of  every  one  to  establish  this  point,  that  arguments 
are  needless.  Cast  your  eyes  around  you  for  one  mo- 
ment and  see  how  many  families,  once  affluent  and  res- 
pectable, are  now  reduced  to  beggary  and  want  by  in- 
temperate husbands  and  fathers.  Some  of  these  inhu- 
man wretches,  after  drinking  up  their  whole  estates,  and 
paying  the  last  debt  of  nature,  have  left  their  families  to  be 
supported  by  the  town .  1  iieir  widows,  who  once  occupi- 
ed an  exalted  station  among  their  neighbors,  are  reduced 
to  the  most  abject  dependence,  and  their  children  be- 
come servants  to  those  who  were  once  (ar  their  interiors. 

That  poverty  is  the  portion  of  drunkards  is  manifest. 
But  it  is  worthy  of  particular  observation  that  very  many 
of  the  pecuniary  embarrassments  experienced  by  the  va- 
rious classes  of  people  in  this  day,  are  the  consequence  of 
intemperance. 

It  is  common  to  hear  people  complaining  of  the  oppres- 
sion of  their  tax'es.  Especially  when  called  upon  to  sup- 
port the  institutions  of  religion,  they  are  vociferous  in  re- 
presenting their  poverty.  The  great  difficulty  is  you 
drink  ardent  spirits.  Cease  to  do  this,  and  you  will  be 
able,  with  the  utmost  facility  to  pay  your  taxes — to  sup- 
port the  gospel,  and  lay  up  money   at  the  year's   end. 

Did  this  fascinatinc;  poison  actually  relieve  lliose  who  tlius  suffer 
themselves  to  take  it,  somethinj^  might  be  said  to  extenuate  their 
conduct  in  this  particular  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  it  hci.ujhtens  and  en- 
rages all  their  symptoms  and  sufferings  ever  after,  excepting  the 
few  moments  immediately  succeeding  the  reception  of  the  potion. 
Every  dose  requires  tv.o  or  three  others  to  assuage  its  ill  effects  ;  ?.nd 
for  one  minute's  indulgence  hi  this  way,  thoy  purchase  many  hours  of 
greater  pain  and  misery,  besides  rcnderiu;.;  tKc  malady  more  incura- 
ble." Dii.CuElSE 


12 

Let  the  people  of  this  county  agree  henceforth  to  drink 
110  ardent  spirits,  and  to  pay  me  annually  what  they  have 
usually  expended  for  this  banehd  liquor,  and  I  will  en- 
gage, henceforth,  to  support  all  their  poor — to  })ay  the 
salary  of  every  minister — to  repair  and  rebuild  the  church- 
es ab  often  as  may  be  necessary,  and  to  satisfy  the  de- 
mands of  all  their  physicians. 

Some  may  be  surprised  to  hear  this  declaration,  but 
your  astonishment  will  give  place  to  conviction  when  you 
are  assured  that  nearly  20,000  dollars  are  annually  ex- 
pended for  ardent  spirits  ot  various  kinds  in  one  town  of 
this  county.  Calculating  the  expences  of  the  other 
towns  to  be  the  same  in  proportion  to  their  population, 
the  result  will  be  that  not  less  than  the  sum  of  100,000 
dollars  is  annually  expended  for  ardent  spirits  in  Sulfuik 
Count3^  And  were  it  possible  to  ascertain  with  preci- 
sion the  loss  of  labor,  the  additional  charges  of  physicians, 
and  other  expences  in  consequence  of  mtemperance,  it  is 
presumed  that  sum  would  be  more  than  doubled.* 

6.  Death  and  eternal  camnation  are  the  natural  ef- 
fects of" intemperance.  Many  a  human  being  has  lost 
his  life  for  no  otlier  cause  than  drunkenness.  From  j^uch 
facts  it  is  evident  that  this  vice  will  of  itself  produce  death, 
aiid  it  has  been  already  shewn  that  it  exposes  the  subject 
to  a  thousand  fatal  accidents,  and  usually  lays  a  foun- 
dation for  disea.ses  which  will  effect  a  premature  dissoln- 
lion. 

And  that  hell  shall  be  the  dreary  abode,  and  eternal 
damnation  the  bitter  cup  ot  drunkards,  the  word  of  God 
aliundantly  declares.  St.  Paul  ranks  them  wx^hjornica- 
tors,  idolators,  aduUertrs,  effeminate,  abusers  of  ihem- 
selves  icith  mankind,  thieves,  covetous,  reviters  and  ex- 


*  Since  the  above  was  vviiiteD  the  author  has  met  v/ith  Dr.  INIitch- 
cU's  view  of  the  MaiuiiVxtures  in  the  United  States,  from  which  it 
appears  that  the  quanlity  of  ardent  spirits  annually  dislilled  in  this 
country,  is  equal  to  "  the  prodigious  amount  of  invrntij-thrce  millions.^ 
.'.evr7i  hundred  and  tweiuij  fhousaud gallons^''  which  is  more  than  three 
gallons  to  a  soul.  When  we  add  to  this  the  quantity  of  importec-1 
spirits,  itajjpears  almost  incredible  that  so  much  stron'^  drink  could 
be  consumed  by  a  population  of  7,000j000. 


13 

tort  inner  s,  ofiill  which  he  affirms  they  sJiallnot  inker  it  the 
/iin<;(Iom  qi  God. — Vid.  J.  Cor.  vi.  iO. 

1  he  sci  ipt  ures  inrl  herassert  t  hat  no  murderer  hath  etcr- 
na!  life  abiding  in  him — I.  Joliii  iii.  lo.  And  what  is 
a  olrunkaid  but  a  murderer  r — a  murderer  of  the  ^ouIe>t 
stain — a  murdtier  of  himself,  both  .soul  and  body — a  self- 
murderer  that  perpetrates  the  prctjumptudis  tJeed,  not 
ill  haste,  but  in  the  most  deliberate  manner,  and  at  the 
utmost  leisure — not  by  a  single  blow,  but  by  ten  thou- 
sand strokes. 

We  may  charitably  believe  that  many  a  poor  wretch 
who  in  liis  haste  had  suspended  himself  from  a  tree,  or 
inflicted  a  deadly  wound  upon  his  vitals,  or  swallowed  a 
dose  of  poison,  would  gladly  have  retracted  the  wicked 
act  had  it  been  in  his  power.  But  the  drunkard  takes 
tlie  poisonous  cup — at  first  he  sips  and  sets  it  down.  Me 
feels  its  eilects,  he  knows  his  vitals  are  invaded,  he  beholds 
death  at  the  bottom.  He  deliberates  awhile  and  then 
renews  his  draught.  He  deliberates  again,  though  a 
shorter  period  tiian  before,  and  again  he  drinks.  Thus 
he  continues  to  do,  day  after  day^  and  year  after  year, 
knowaig  what  will  assuredly  be  the  issue,  till  weary  of 
killing  himself  by  inches  ;  he  tilts  the  cup  and  greedily 
swallows  tlie  very  dregs.     He  closes  his  ghastly  eyes  and 

awake.^ in  hell.     Here  he  drank  a  cup  of  trembling, 

but  tljcre  he  shall  drink  a  more  bitter  cup.  Here  it  pro- 
duced woe^  sorrow,  contentions ^  zvounds,  disease  and 
deaih  ;  nut  there  it  shall  bite  like  a  serpent  andstin<^  like 
an  adder.  Who  then  can  be  more  heinously  guilty  of 
suicide  than  the  drunkard  ?  And  w  ho  must  expect  a 
ho  ler  place  in  hell  ? 

rh(-'se  are  someol  the  dreadful  effects  of  intemperance. 
In  view  of  them,  how  rational  and  proper  is  the  advice 
in  the  text.  Look  not  thou  upon  theivine  zvhen  it  is  red, 
zchen  it  givethJiis  color  in  the  cup ^  when  it  vwveth  itself 
aright.  And  how  true  is  the  sentiment  by  which  this 
admonition  is  sanctir^ncd — At  the  last  it  biteth  like  a  ser- 
pent and  stingeth  like  an  adder. 

It  is  manifest  that  the  vice  of  intemperance  is  an  cnor- 
m:.us  evil.     U  X\\o  figure  be  admissible,  it  is  a  mi'j:litv 


14 

oaV,  the  roots  of  v^  bich  have  shot  clown  to  the  centre  of 
th.  earth,  yea,  they  have  taken  hold  on  hell ;  its  branch- 
es have  spread  far  and  wide  and  cast  a  pestilential  sha- 
dow over  the  face  of  the  wh.ole  world.  Notwithstanding 
its  giga I'tic;  size,  if  all  mankind  were  united  in  sentiment 
aii  exerti  n  the  strength  would  be  amply  sufficient  to 
pkick  It  up  root  and  branch.  But  alas!  they  are  not 
united.  Thousands  delighi  supremely  in  reposing  night 
and  day  under  its  deadly  shade.  They  would  not  lend  a 
band  to  cut  it  down  though  they  might  obtain  heaven  by 
the  act.  Tliere  are  multitudes  of  others  who  consider  its 
overgrown  stature  a  great  evil,  but  at  the  same  time  think 
favorably  of  resting  themselves  several  times  a  day  under 
its  branches.  Hence  it  is  impossible  to  cut  it  down  ot 
once,  its  destruction  must  be  gradual.  Every  rightly 
drsposed  person  can  pluck  up  a  root  and  lop  oiFa  branch, 
and  he  that  deals'  ttie  heaviest  blow  is  the  best  friend  to 
man.  In  this  way  we  may  eventually  destroy  its  exist- 
ence. The  question  then  is.  How  shall  this  be  done  with 
the  most  cxpedilion  and  effect  f 

In  answer  to  this  inquiry  it  may^  be  observed  ;  1.  That 
an  embargo,  or  an  act  of  non-importation  of  spirituous  li- 
quors, would  not  be  an  effectual  remedy.  \i  our  peo- 
ple could  not  obtain  ardent  spirits  frr  m  foreign  countries 
they  would  burn  up  the  produce  of  their  orchards  and 
fields,  as  they  have  begun  to  do  already,  to  obtain  a  li- 
quid still  more  pernicious  to  the  human  constitution  than 
imported  spirits,  a)id  which  will  consequently  induce  ma- 
ny ot  the  fatal  effects  ah'eady  mention- d  with  greater  ra- 
pldity.  The  last  sentiment  is  abundantly  established  by 
the  numerous  {acts  which  have  occurred  in  the  \  icinity  of 
distilleries  in  our  country.  Not  only  has  the  number  ot 
intemperate  people  been  greatly  increased  m  such  places, 
in  consequence  of  the  facility  with  which  intoxi{:ating  li- 
quor is  obtained,  but  the  number  of  deaths  hy  intemper- 
ance has  also  been  greatly  increased.  Last  autumn  an 
intemperate  man  of  my  acquaintance  survived  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  distillery  near  his  house  but  two  or  three 
months,  and  his  death  was  the  manifest  effect  of  it  — 
Hence  it  is  manitest  that  our  government  is  not  princi- 


15 

pally  to  blame  for  the  existence  of  this  evil.  If  they 
were  disposed  they  could  not  exclude  ardent  spirits  from 
the  country. 

But,  notwithstanding  this,  it  is  believed  tliat  something 
might  be  done  by  our  government  to  diminish  the  quan- 
tity of  strong  drink,  or  to  lessen  the  facility  witli  which 
it  is  now  obtained.  A  tax  upon  the  in^portalion  and 
distillation  of  this  article  might  be  sufficiently  large,  with- 
out any  injury  to  the  public,  to  discharge  the  annual  ex- 
pences  of  the  government.  Tliis  would  {)revent  many  in- 
temperate people  from  obtaining  it  for  the  want  of  means, 
while  others,  who  have  the  means  in  their  power,  would 
run  through  their  estates  before  they  had  completely  ru- 
ined their  constitutions  and  rendered  themselves  incapa- 
ble of  getting  a  living.  When  a  man  has  once  abandon- 
ed himself  to  drink,  the  sooner  he  becomes  penny  less  the 
better  for  himself  and  his  family. 

2.  A  law  of  the  state,  or  of  the  union,  forbidding  alto- 
gether the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  woald  not  be  an  elTectu- 
al  remedy  for  the  evil  of  intemjicrance.  A  law  of  that 
description  would  be  easily  evaded.  But  although  laws 
cannot  be  made  to  prevent  the  existence  of  this  evil,  yet 
many  of  its  dreadful  effects  might  be  prevented,  or  at 
least  diminshed  by  salutary  laws.  For  instance,  if  pro- 
vision were  made  by  a  lavv^  of  the  state  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  guardian  to  a  man  who  is  manifestly  squander- 
ing away  his  estate  by  intemperance,  and  even  for  the 
imprisonment  of  the  otlenderif  he  is  abusive  in  his  family, 
how  many  helpless  women  and  children  would  be  saved 
from  abuse,  poverty  and  disgrace ;  and  how  much  would 
your  taxes  for  the  support  of   paupers  be  diminished.^' 

*  A  law  of  some  clcscriplion  or  other  is  absolutely  necessary  to  pre- 
vent drunkards  iVoni  spending  their  whole  estates  for  rum.  There 
are  many  merchants  who  are  in  the  habit  of  supplying  such  persons 
with  liquor  on  credit,  and  for  the  security  of  payment,  taking  a  re- 
newed mortgage  every  year  upon  their  farms.  In  the  course  of  a 
few  years  *'  by  virtue  of  a  power  contained  in  the  said  mortgage,  and 
in  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  State  in  such  cases  made  and  provi- 
ded," those  farms  arc  advertised  and  sold,  and  the  whole  family  turn- 
ed out  of  doors  without  any  means  ot  subsistence.  If  men  can  be  so 
lost  to  virtue,  honor  and  humanity,  as  to  distress  a  whole  family  for 
the  sake  of  enriching  themselves,  it  is  high  time  that  some  legal  re- 


16 

The  experiment  iias  been  tried  by  a  sister  state,  and  has 
been  found  to  be  attended  with  salutary  consequences. 

Let  it  not  be  oi>iected  that  such  an  act  would  be  incon- 
sistent with  re[)u!)lican  principles.  By  an  existing  sta- 
tute of  our  state,  the  crime  of  perjury  is  punishable  with 
imprisonment.  And  although,  in  the  opinion  of  some, 
this  vice  may  involv^e  a  greater  degree  oi  enormity  than 
intemperance,  yet,  in  its  present  extent,  its  pernicious  ef- 
fects upon  societ}'  are  by  no  means  so  great.  The  bare 
name  of  perjury  impressess  all  classes  with  horror,  but 
they  have  become  so  familiarized  to  drunkenness,  that  the 
majority  of  the  people  can  contemplate  this  vice  with  m- 
diflerence,  if  not  complacency.  1  herefore  we  may  com- 
clude  that  a  man  does  as  really  forieit  his  liberty  and  the 
use  of  his  property  by  intemperance,  as  by  perjury  or  any 
other  crime  cognizable  by  human  laws. 

Again — it  is  believed  that  licences  for  retailing  ardent 
spirits  are  obtained  with  too  great  facility  in  this  state. 
Our  good  legislators  who  framed  our  existing  laws  upon 
this  subject,  probably  thought  that  they  had  sufficiently 
hedged  up  the  way  ;  but  experience  has  proved  that  suf- 
ficient has  not  yet  been  done.  They  probably  expect- 
ed that  the  particularity  and  solemnity  of  the  Commis- 
sioner's oath  would  be  a  suflicient  barrier  against  the 
unnecessary  multiplication  of  taverns  and  grog-shops ; 
but  they  never  anticipated  the  time  when  ^uch  solemn 
oaths  would  be  considered  merely  as  the  ceremony  of  in- 
duct()n  to  office,  and  public  officers  would  relinquish 
the  dictates  of  their  own  understandings  for  the  opinions 
of  their   constituents.^      Notwitstanding   our  Commis- 


straint  was  imposed.  Query — If  nothing  more  ^yere  done,  would 
it  not  be  advisable  to  limit  the  selling  of  liquor  on  credit^hy  merchants 
as  well  as  tavern-keepers  ? 

*  In  numerous  instances  the  Commissioners  have  been  known  to 
refuse  a  licence  under  the  conviction  that  the  proposed  tavern  was 
unnecessary.  The  applicant  has  returned  home, , procured  a  peti- 
tion signed  by  40  or  50  of  his  neighbors  and  presented  it  to  the  Com- 
missioners, which  has  completely  reversed  their  former  opinion  and 
prevailed  upon  them  to  ;^rant  a  licence.  What  powerful  arguments 
yre  the  names  of  men  !  !  .' 


17 

sioners  of  excise  arc  sworn  in  the  presence  of  Almiglity 
God,  with  the  sacred  vohime  before  them,  that  they  "  vviil 
not  on  any  account  or  pretence  whatsoever,  i;rant  any 
licence  to  any  person  within  the  said  town  of  for 

the  purpose  of  keeping  an  Inn  or  Tavern,  except  wiiere 
it  shall  appear  to  them  to  be  absohitely  necessary  for  the 
benefit  of  travellers  ;  and  that  they  will  in  all  tliinj^s,  while 
acting  as  commissioners  of  excise,  do  tlieir  duty  accord- 
ing to  the  best  of  their  judgment  and  ability,  without 

fear,  favor  or  partiality,  agreeable  to  law.1! 

— Alany  taverns  do  exist  where  it  is  probable  a  meal  is 
seldom  eaten  and  perliaps  a  stranger  never  lodges. — 
Theseobservations  are  made  to  shew  the  necessity  of  new 
laws  upon  this  subject. 

3.  The  commencement  of  the  only  eflectual  remedy 
for  the  intemperate  use  of  ardent  spirits  is  the  immedi- 
ate EFFECTUAL  REFORMATION  OF    INDIVIDUALS.       When 

a  single  person  adopts  the  resolution  never  again  to  drink, 
nor  invite  another  to  drink,  ardent  spirits  unless  it  be  im- 
mediately necessary  for  the  preservation  of  life  or  health, 
one  fatal  blow  is  given  to  this  baneful  tree,  and  89^,300, 
000*  more  of  equal  force  will  fall  it  to  the  ground  aijd 
destroy  its  existence.     This  is  the  remedy  contemplated 
in  the  text.     Look  not.  thou  upon  the  rvine  zvhen  it  is  red, 
zvhe?i  it  giveth  If  is  color  in  the  cup,  zv/ten  it  movelh  itsdf 
aright.     Solomon  knew  well  the  various  inducements  to 
intemperance.  He  considered  temperate  drinking  (as  the 
phrase  is  often  very  improperly  used)  to  be  the  highway 
to  drunkenness.     Therefore  he  discouraged  not  only  the 
tasting  of  strong  drink,  but  even  looking  at  it,  lest   it 
should  prove  a  temptation  to  moderate  drinking,  which 
might  eventually  lead  to  excess.      The  bare  appearance 
of  liquor,  especially  in  a  glass  vessel,  is  a  powerful  temp- 
tation to  a  person  who  has  a  thirst  for  it.     Hence  such  a 
man  ought  not  only  to  stop  his  bottles,  but   also  to  put 
them  out  of  his  sight  .*[* 


*  The  agp:reg-ate  population  of  tlie  earth. 

t  Is  not  the  practice,  of  exposing  liquor  to  public  view  upon  side- 
boards and  other  places,  as  hii^hly  ijnproper  as  it  woulil  be  to  de- 
corate our  rooms  with  obscene  and  lascivious  pictures  ?     With  what 

c 


18 

Now  the  only  question  is  where  the  proposed  reforraa- 
tion  shall  commence  to  insure  the  most  rapid  progress  ? 
We  need  not  hesitate  a  moment  to  answer,  ivith  the 
ministers  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  They  may  preach 
without  ceasing  against  the  intemperate  use  of  ardent 
spirits,  but  if  they  allow  themselves  occasionally  to  re- 
cruit their  exhausted  strength  by  that  stimul^us,  their 
hearers  will  follow  their  occasional  example  much  quick- 
er than  their  constant  precept  ;  and  instead  of  going  no 
farther  than  their  minister,  they  will  run  into  all  the 
lengths  ot  intemperance. 

Consider,  for  a  moment,  what  would  be  the  probable 
efiecls  resulting  from  the  adoption  of  this  resolution  by 
only  one  minister  of  the  gospel.  When  visiting  his  peo- 
ple from  house  to  house,  and  at  every  stop  receiving  the 
usual  compliment  to  drink  a  little  spirits,  he  will  be 
obliged  to  decline,  and  for  the  fiear  of  the  charge  of  un- 
necessary singularity  he  must  give  his  reasons  ^  and  with 
what  power  will  they  come  when  backed  by  his  exam- 
ple I  What  parishioner,  however  fond  of  the  poisonous  li- 
quor, would  dare  to  take  hold  of  the  bottle,  in  his  pre* 
sence,  and  implicitly  say.  If  you  are  afraid  I  am  not. — 
In  a  short  time  the  elders  and  deacons  would  follow  their 
minister's  example.  Here  would  be  a  little  chosen  host 
arrayed  against  the  devil's  strong  hold.  Many  a  heavy 
blow  they  would  daily  deal  upon  it.  From  time  to 
time  their  strength  would  be  increased  by  the  accession 
of  volunteers,  until  the  whole  church  be  enlisted.  Then 
what  cong!egation  could  withstand  the  united  precept 
and  example  of  every  professing  christian  among  them  ? 
?S'ot  one.*  The  reformation,  thus  happily  commenced, 
would  be  likely  to  progress  until  the  sin  of  intemperance 
would  be  unheard  of  in  that  congregation. 

Let  this  course  be  adopted  by  the  members  of  one 
Presbytery — the  beginning  of  the  good  work  will  be  the 
greater — the  strength  of  each  will  be  increased  by  the 
recollection  that  his  brethren  are  under  the  same  bond, 

face  could  we  advise  our  visitors  Look  not  upon  the  wmcy  ^e»  when 
the  most  conspicuous  pluce  in  our  houses  is  occupied  by  decanter.^ 
of  liquor. 


19 

and  their  united  exertions  will  produce  the  greater  eftects. 
When  they  meet  together  upon  the  affairs  of  the  clmrch, 
they  are  accompanied  by  their  elders.  These  would  not 
have  confidence  to  drink  when  all  their  mmisters  refuse. 
Their  example,  as  in  the  former  case,  would  soon  be  fol- 
lowed by  the  church,  and  theirs  by  the  congregation,  la 
this  way  the  evil  would  soon  be  arrested  throughout  a 
large  district  of  country. 

Nor  v^Muld  these  good  effects  be  confined  within  the 
limits  of  that  Presbytery.  The  members  in  attending 
the  other  judicatoiies  of  the  church,  and  in  then*  com- 
mon intercourse  with  other  parts  of  the  country,  would 
necessarily  exhibit  their  example  beibre  their  brethren  s 
and,  from  the  force  oi  example,  we  may  reasonably  ex- 
pert that  it  would  influence  them  to  go  and  do  likewise. 
Tims  the  adoption  of  this  resolution  by  one  Presbytery, 
might  be  the  happy  mean  of  expelling  this  abominable 
vice  from  the  United  States  ;  and  who  knows  but  in  pro- 
cess of  time,  it  might  in  the  same  way  be  banished  from 
Christendom  ? 

But  there  are  many  objections  to  the  proposed  reme- 
dy, some  of  which  ought  to  be  considered  in  order  to  a 
thorough  investigation  of  this  subject. 

1.  Objection— Ardent  spirits  are  necessary.  An- 
swer—So are  opium,  and  mercury,  and  arsenic.  But 
does  it  follow  from  this  that  a  man  ought  daily  to  eat  a 
quantity  of  the  soporific  gum  to  prevent  the  pains  of  na- 
ture ;  or  as  frequently  to  drink  the  ponderous  liquid  to 
kill  the  principles  of  disease  ;  or  to  take  a  few  grains 
of  rats-bane  several  times  a  day  to  prevent  an  attack  of 
the  intermittent  ?  There  is  reason  in  all  things.  Let 
people  keep  their  bottle  of  spirits,  as  they  do  a  vial  oi 
laudanum,  and  use  it  with  the  same  discretion.* 

But  there  are  few,  in  this  degenerate  age,  who  think 
favorably  of  so  great  a  restriction.  People  in  general  ap- 
pear to  believe  that  ardent  spirits  are  as  absolutely  neces- 

*"  Spirituous  liquors  never  were  designed  for  common  use. 
They  were  formerly  kept  in  England  as  other  medicines  are,  m 
afiothccarks'  .shops.  If  freely  indulged  they  become  a  certain,  though 
slo^y  poison."  .  ^r,  Chetse, 


20 

yary  to  their  existence  as  their  daily  bread.  The  tho- 
rough-bred gentleman  must  have  his  glass  of  brandy  and 
water  every  hour  to  support  his  nature  Muder  the  vast 
liitigue  of  doing  nothing.  The  mechanic  andlaborer  must 
each  have  a  dram  before  breakfast,arid  the  same  at  1 1  and 
4  o'clock.  And  even  our  amiable  women  cannot  endure 
the  fatigue  of  an  afternoon's  visit  without  the  occasional 
refreshment  ol  wines,  and  cordials.  Indeed  some  have 
gune  so  far  as  to  say  that  a  laborer  might  as  well  be  de- 
nied meat  as  ardent  spirits. — This  supposed  necessity  is 
founded  entirely  on  habit.  Laboring  people  who  have 
been  accustomed  to  the  use  of  strong  drink,  would 
experience  considerable  inconvenience  at  first  renouncing 
the  practice.  But  after  a  few  weeks  or  months  priva- 
tion, they  would  find  themselves  able  to  bear  greater 
liardships  and  their  systems  woidd  recover  much  sooner 
irom  excessive  fatigue,  it  is  admitted  that  ardent  spirits 
will  stimulate  a  wearj^  man,  so  that  he  wnll  be  able  to 
labor  with  renewed  vigor.  This  is  the  very  nature  of 
the  pernu?pous  liquor.  But  let  it  be  remembered  that  the 
strengtli  with  which  he  then  labors  is  not  natural^  and 
when  once  the  spirit  is  exhausted,  he  will  sink  much  low- 
er than  before,  and  a  much  longer  time  is  requisite  to  re- 
cruit his  constitution,  than  would  have  been  necessary, 
had  he  drank  no  stim dating  liquor,* 

If  tiiese  observations  be  not  correct,  I  desire  to  kiaow 
how  our  ancestors  lived  ?  That  tliey  were  a  more 
healthy  race  than  we,  the  annals  of  their  age  testify. — 
'1  {jat  they  were  as  robust  and  athletic,  their  works,  which 

*  "Many  imagine  that  hard  lubor  caniiot  be  supported  Avithout 
dnnkinij  strong  drink.  This  though  u  common  is  a  very  erroneous 
i.otion.  Men  who  never  tasted  such  spirits  are  not  only  able  to  en- 
dure inore  fatigue,  but  also  live  much  longer  than  those  who  use 
iheni  dai^y.  But  suppose  such  liquors  qualified  a  man  to  perform 
ir.oie  work,  they  must,  notwithstanding,  waste  the  powers  of  life, 
and,  of  course,  occasion  premature  old  age.  They  keep  up  a  cou- 
siant  fever,  which  consumes  the  spirits  ;  heats  and  inflames  the 
blood,  and  predisposes  the  body  to  numberless  diseases.  All  imox- 
icaiing  liquors  may  be  considered  as  poisons.  However  dis- 
guised, this  is  their  real  character  ;  and  sooner  or  later  they  will 
iiave  their  pernicious  efTccts.'*  Bn.  Buciian. 


21 

still  remain,  abundanlly  prove.  And  that  they  could  en- 
dure greater  hardsliips,  is  manifest  to  all  who  have  read 
the  liistory  of  the  first  settlement  of  this  country.  And 
yet  they  were  never  in  the  habitual  use  of  ardent  spirits. 
An  aged  mechanic  of  my  acciuaintance,  above  fourscore 
years  ofaq;e,  and  who  is  still  li\ing,  has*  frequently  assu- 
red me,  tiiat  when  he  was  an  apprentice  strong  drink 
was  thought  no  more  necessary  for  laboring  men  than 
oi)ium  or  any  other  drug,  and  that  a  bottle  of  spirits  oc- 
cupied the  same  place  in  a  family  that  a  vial  ot  laudanum 
does  in  the  present  day.* 

That  spirits  will  not  help  a  man  to  bear  the  cold  is 
manilest  to  every  one  that  has  tried  the  experiment. — 
Alaiiy  think  this  liquor  necessary  in  hot  weather,  but  this 
also  is  an  erroneous  sentiment.  It  increases  the  heat, 
and  promotes  a  tendency  to  putrefaction,  whicii  in  that 
season  exists  in  ail  animal  substances. |      In  this  point 

*  That  ardent  spirits  are  not  rendered  necessary  in  the  present 
day  by  a  nialeriul  clian.s'C  of  climate  or  any  other  natural  cause,  but 
that  men  can  AviUiout  danger  break  ofV  suddenly,  live  as  comfortably, 
and  work  as  hard  without  it,  if  cUsposcd,  the  following-  facts  arc  con- 
sidered as  good  evidence. I  In  an  excursion  throuc^h  this  County  in 
the  mont'.i  of  August  last,  I  became  acquainted  with  three  men  who 
were  in  the  habit  of  using-  no  ardent  spirits.  Ojic  of  them  was  near- 
ly sixty  years  of  age  and  had  been  accustomed  to  a  free  use  o^  it 
Cthough  not  to  intoxication)  from  his  youth  until  about  a  year  before, 
at  which  time  he  suddenly  and  entirely  abandoned  the  practice.  He 
declared,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  that  after  a  few  weeks  priva- 
tion he  had  no  inclination  after  it — tluit  at  no  time  did  he  experience 
any  evil  eiTects  for  the  want  of  it,  but  on  the  contrary  found  himself 
able  to  endure  as  great  hardships,  and  uniformly  recovered  sooner 
from  their  effects  than  vvlien  he  used  spirits.  The  other  two  (one 
thitty  and  the  other  forty-five  years  of  age)  had  drank  no  kind  of  spir- 
its, except  in  sickness,  for  the  space  oi  seven  or  eight  years,  and 
both  declared  that  they  suffered  no  inconvenience  for  the  want  of  it 
at  any  time,  not  even  in  the  laborious  season  of  harvest. 

t  This  maybe  consiciered  as  incorrect  reasoning  from  the  circum- 
stance that  animal  substances  may  be  preserved  for  years  by  oeing 
immersed  in  spirits,  and  that  they  are  often  applied  externally  to 
prevent  moriitication.  liut  a  moment's  consideration  will  produce 
the  conviction  that  their  effects  arc  vastly  different  in  these  cases. 
AVhcn  externally  applied  to  wounds  or  raw  ilcsh,  they  extract  cor- 
rupt and  corrosive  humors  aad  have  a  tendency  to  heal  or  preserve. 
But  when  taken  internally,  they  are  pent  up  in  the  stomach,  create 
a  fever,  consequently  produce  a  fermentation  in  \\\c  iluids  and  im- 
pel the  whole  system  to  putrefaction.  »» 


22 

of  view  it  is  manifestly  dangerous  to  use  it  in  hot  weath- 
er. People  need  not  fear  the  effects  of  cold  water,  if 
they  take  proper  precautions  before  they  drink. 

It  is  said  by  some  that  this  raging  liquid  will  do  a  man 
no  harm,  if  he  sweat  freely  after  drinkuig  it.  This  is  a 
palpable  error.  No  part  of  the  liquor  is  thrown  oft  b}^ 
perspiration,  which  being  retained  would  injure  the  con- 
stitution. All  the  poisonous  qualities  are  safely  lodged 
in  the  system,  while  the  watery  particles  are  evacuated. 
As  well  might  you  expect  to  prevent  the  effects  of  a  dose 
of  poisnn  by  perspiration,  as  to  prevent  injury  from  ar- 
dent spirits  by  the  same  mean. 

2.  Obj. — 1  he  present  habits  of  society  forbid  the  adop- 
tion of  tlie  proposed  remedy.  It  would  be  impolite  to 
refuse  the  solicitations  of  our  friends  to  drink,  and  still 
more  so  to  neglect  to  invite  them  when  they  visit  us. 
In  addition  to  this,  we  should  have  a  rebellion  among 
mechanics  and  laborers.  The  consequence  would 
be,  we  must  live  without  houses,  for  mechanics  would 
not  build  them  without  nun  ;  our  harvests  must  drop 
into  the  ground,  for  reapers  c^uld  not  be  obtained  with- 
out rum  'y  in  short,  we  could  have  no  work  done  without 
rum. 

Ans. — There  are  many  modern  practices  inconsistent 
with  Christianity.  Kjwzii  ye  not  tliat  the  jriendship  of 
the  ivorld  is  enmity  ivith  God  f  Whosoever  thervjore 
will  be  a  friend  oj  the  ivorld  is  the  enemy  of  God. — 
James  iv.  4.  By  the  same  rule,  he  that  would  be  the 
friend  of  God  must  reject  the  friendship  of  the  world. — 
The  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  would  soon  become  a  muti- 
lated system,  if  every  generation  were  permitted  to  ac- 
commodate it  to  their  peculiar  babiis.  But  the  word  of 
God  is  the  supreme  law.  All  our  practices  ought  to  be 
conformed  to  that  divine  rule.  The  gospel  contains  the 
best  system  of  p(^]iteness ;  and  be  it  remembered  that 
our  Savior  never  [iromised  a  reward  to  hiui  who  sliould 
give  to  drink  unto  one  oJ  these  little  ones  a  glass  o/  bran- 
dy and  water,  but  to  him  ivho  shall  give  a  cup  o^  cold 
zvater  only. — Mat.  x.  42.  We  ought  to  set  a  higher 
value  ?ipou  this  blessing  of  Jesus  and  strive  more  earnest- 


23 

Iv  to  obtain  it,  than  the  thanks  often  thousand  drunk- 

But  is  there  no  way  to  treat  our  friends  Hjtely  and 
agreeably  but  with  a  bottle  in  our  bands?  ^V  ill  they  "ot 
be  satisfied  with  our  society,  our  conversation  and  a  plen- 
tiful repast  in  its  proper  season,  or  an  occasional  dessert 
when  it  may  be  necessary  ?  If  they  will  not  then  we 
are  bound  to  reject  their  friendship,  if  we  would  have  the 
Lord  for  our  friend.  _ 

But  the  latter  part  of  this  objection  is  entitled  to  |.ar- 
ticular  consideration.     In  answer  to  which  it  may  be  ob- 
served that  it  is  an  unjust  reflection  upon  the  whole  class 
of  mechanics  and  laborers.      There  are  many  even  now, 
and  there  would  soon  be  more,  who  would  labor  with- 
out spirits,  if  employers  would  take  their  proper  stand 
and  do  their  di-.ty.      The  encouragement  of  higher  wa- 
ges oueht  t..be  given  to  temperate  laborers  ;  and  this 
roijiht  be  done  without  the  smallest  injury  to   tlie  em- 
plover.     If  a  man  can  now  afford  to  give  a  dollar  per  day 
and  a  shilling's  worth  of  rum,  he  could  as  well  pay  nme 
shillings  to  a  man  who  would  work  without  it ;  and  even 
more,  because  more  work  would   be  done  and  in  better 
order       Upon  this  plan  there  would  be  a  gam  both  to 
the  employer  and  laborer.      The  latter  would  be  more 
than  thirty  dollars  richer  at  the  end  of  the  ytar,  than  i 
be  had  drank  as  usual.     This  consideration  of  itself  would 
induce  many  of  tiiat  class  to  labor  without  rum 

3  Obj  —Many  obtain  their  living  by  making,  and 
others  bv  vending  ardent  spirits,  and  the  proposed  rem- 
edy, if  universally  adopted,  would  throw  them  out  o. 

^"ahJ — Then  let  them  turn  to  the  soil  and  gel  ^nhoii- 
csl  livelihood  as  others  do.  If  the  produce  of  the  West- 
India  Islands,  without  being  converted  into  rum,  be  in- 
sufficient to  support  the  inhabitants,  let  them  emigrate 
to  the  United  States.  We  have  vacant  lauds  enough  m 
Aarious  climates  to  employ  millions  besides  them.  Ibe 
same  way  of  living  lies  open  to  our  own  citizens,  who  are 
now  enriching  themselves  at  the  expence  of  the  souls  and 
bodies  of  their  neighbors.      If  the  eiTects  of  strong  drink 


24 

be  snch  as  have  been  represented,  tlien  the  employment 
of  selling  ardent  spirits  cannot  be  consistent  with  a  ciiris- 
tian  profession.  And  it  is  a  matter  of  astonishment  that 
this  em|)lo3'ment  has  not  been  |)roscribed  by  every  chris- 
tian denomination.  But  the  Quakers  stand  alone  in  op- 
position to  this  nefarious  traffic.  The  Methodists  also 
have  taken  a  commendable  step  in  prohibiting  their  mem- 
bers the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  unless  by  the  adviceof  a  phy- 
sician ;  but  it  is  to  be  lamented  that  they  have  not  prevent- 
ed them  from  furnisliing  others  with  the  means  of  intoxica- 
tion. Regulations  so  exactly  conformed  to  the  spirit  of 
Christianity,  as  those  existing  among  the  Friends,  ought 
to  be  adopted  and  strictly  observed  by  every  religious 
denomination. 

4.  Oh). — The  proposed  remedy  will  be  so  slow  in  its 
operation  that  there  is  no  encoul-agement  to  adopt  it — 
It  in  presumption  fortwo  or  three  to  think  of  reforming  the 
whole  worlri. 

Ans. — Are  not  the  blessings  of  health,  wealth  and  irre- 
proachable character,  a  clear  conscience  and  the  appro- 
bation of  heaven,  sufficient  motives  to  iijduce  a  few  to 
lelinquish  the  accursed  thing,  even  though  none  v^-ere 
prevailed  upon  to  follow  their  example  ?  But  it  will  be 
observed  that  the  only  question  is— Whether  the  pro- 
posed remedy  be  right  in  itself?  If  so,  it  is  proper  for 
all  who  are  convinced  of  its  propriety,  immediately  to 
adopt  it  ;  and  the  probability  of  its  not  succeeding,  gen- 
erally, ought  to  have  no  discouraging  influence. 

But  the  objection  is  believed  to  be  entirely  groundless. 

It  is  presumed  that  wlien  the  current  is  once  turned, 
it  will  run  with  greater  rapidity  the  contrary  way. 
Only  let  as  great  a  stigma  be  placed  upon  a  de.sire  after 
liquor,  as  tliere  is  now  upon  the  other  lusts  of  the  fxesh, 
and  instances  ©f  drunkenness  will  become  as  rare  as  acts 
of  adultery.  The  most  abandoned  characters  do  regard 
the  popular  opinion,  and  it  cannot  fail  to  have  influence 
upon  tiieii'  public  conduct. 

5.  Ol>j  -^The  proposed  remedy  will  never  be  adopted 
by  those  who  are  in  the  habit  of  drinking  to  intoxication. 
;No  argiupents  will  prevail  upon  them  to  quit  the  use  of 


2$ 

ardent  spirits  altogether.  We  want  ^a  remedy  thafc 
drunkards  will  apply. 

Ans. — It  is  not  expected  that  such  characters  will 
adopt  the  remedy  proposed.  Nothing  short  ot  a  mira- 
cle of  grace  will  change  their  hahits  ;  and  such  a  work  we 
can  scarcely  ho[)e  will  be  performed  upon  them.  Our 
principal  ol)ject  is  not  to  cure  drunkards.  An  eflectual 
remedy  for  them  is  beyond  our  reach.  Let  them  kill 
themselves  and  perish  eternally,  since  they  are  determin- 
ed upon  it,  and  we  cannot  prevent  them  ;  but  let  us  en- 
deavor to  make  their  successors  temperate  men.  This, 
the  proposed  remedy  is  calculated  to  eirect.  In  this 
point  of  view,  the  objection  vanishes. 

6.  Ohj. — Even/  creature  of  God  is  good,  and  nothing 
to  he  refused  ij  it  he  received  xvitli  thanksgiving,  fur  it 
is  sanctijied  by  the  word  of  God  and  prayer. — I.  Tim.  iv. 
4,  o. 

Ans. — Many  people  consider  this  text  as  a  licence  for 
the  use  of  strong  drink,  and  they  consider  it  as  an  unan- 
swerable argument  because  it  is  the  word  of  God  ;  but 
the  Devd  can  quote  scripture  to  serve  his  own  purposes. 
It  will  however  be  observed  that  Paul  did  not  allude  to 
this,  when  he  made  the  above  observation,  but  to  meats 
which  he  foresaw  certain  impostors  would  forbid  christians 
to  use.  But  there  are  several  ways  in  which  the  objec- 
tion founded  on  these  words  may  be  disposed  of  without 
restricting  the  apostle's  meaning  to  meats. 

No  one  that  makes  use  of  this  objection  will  consider 
it  as  a  licence  for  mtemperance.  All  agre.^  that  it  ought 
to  be  confined  to  its  proper  place  Now,  it  is  confidently 
believed  that  its  proper  place  has  been  assigned  in  this 
discourse,  the  very  place  to  which  it  is  restricted  by  the 
word  of  God.  When  it  is  necessary  for  the  preservation 
of  life  or  health,  then  it  ought  not  to  be  refused.  But 
when  it  is  desired  merely  to  please  the  taste,  to  gratify 
the  lusts  of  the  tlesh,  or  to  enable  a  man  to  do  more  work 
than  his  nature  can  bear  without  it,  then  it  ought  to  be 
refiised. 

Again — admitting  strong  drink  to  occupy  a  place  with- 
in the  limits  of  the  Apostle's  indulgence,  he  clearly  points 


26 

out  the  manner  in  which  it  is  to  be  received  and  used, 
viz.  zvith  thanksgiving.  Therefore  let  no  man  dare  to 
taste  a  drop  of  this  hqiior,  but  when  he  can  with  a  clear 
conscience,  with  clean  hands,  with  a  pure  heart  and  with 
unteigned  lips,  give  thanks  to  God  for  it.  If  this  be  done, 
and  this  the  objector  is  bounden  to  do,  it  is  believed 
that  the  force  ol  the  ol)jection  is  entirel}^  destroyed. 
A  number  of  inferences  will  conclude  this  discourse.— 
1.  This  subject  te^^ches  the  fully  of  intemperance.  A 
man  gains  notiiing  by  it,  and  loses  every  thing.  He  lo- 
ses his  strength — liis  health — his  reason — his  character — 
his  estate — his  life — and  what  is  more  than  all  he  loses 
htcwen.  Truly,  said  the  wise  man,  *'  Wine  is  a  m^cker,^ 
strong  drink  is  raging,  and  whosoever  is  deceived  there- 
b^  is  not  wise." — Prov,  xx.  1.  "  Woe  unto  them  that 
rise  up  early  in  the  morning  that  they  may  follow  strong 
drink,  that  continue  until  night  till  wme  inflame  them.'* 
Jsa.  v.  1 1  "  Woe  unto  the  men  that  are  mighty  to  drink 
wine,andmen  of  strength  to  mingle  strong  drink.'*Ver.212. 
'*  x\s  the  fire  devoureth  the  stubble  and  the  ^ame  consu- 
me'h  the  chj^lf,  so  their  root  shall  be  as  rottenness,  and 
their  blossom  shall  go  up  as  dust,  because  they  have  cast 
av\  ay  the  law  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  and  despised  the  word 
of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel.  Therefore  is  the  anger  of  the 
Lord  kindled,  and  he  hath  stretched  out  his  hand  against 
thrill,  and  hath  smitten  them  ;  and  the  hills  tremble,  and 
their  carcases  are  torn  in  the  midst  of  the  street.  For  all 
this  his  anger  is  not  turned  away,  but  his  hand  is  stretch- 
ed out  still.*' — Ver.  24,  li^5.  "Awake  ye  drunkards 
and  weep,  and  howl  all  ye  drinkers  of  wine."— Joel  i.  5. 
"  Ye  shall  not  drink  wine  with  a  song ;  strong  drink 
shall  be  bitter  to  you." — Isa.  xxiv  9.  "Stay  your- 
selves and  wonder;  cry  ye  out,  and  cry;  ye  shall  be 
drunken,  but  not  with  wine;  ye  shall  stagger,  but  not 
with  strong  drink."— Chap.  xxix.  9.  "  Ye  shall  drink 
at  the  hand  of  the  Lord  the  cup  of  his  fury  ;  ye  shall  drink 
the  dregs  of  the  cup  of  trembling  and  wnng  them  out." 
— Chap  li.  17.  "  The  same  shall  drink  of  the  wine  of 
the  wralh  ot  God,  whici;  \i  poured  out  without  mixture 
into  the  cup  of  his  indignation,  and  shall  be  tormented 


27 

with  fire  and  brimstone  in  the  presence  of  the  holy  An- 
gels and  in  the  presence  of  the  Lamb  ;  and  tlie  smoke  of 
their  torment  ascendcth  up  forever  and  ever,  and  they 
have  no  rest  day  nor  night." — Rev.  xiv.  10,  11.  Wliat 
can  he  be  called  but  a  fool  who  would  procure  such  a 
portion  for  the  short-lived  gratification  of  his  sensual  ap- 
petites ? 

2.  This  subject  shews  when  ardent  spirits  may  be  law- 
fully used,  viz.  when  they  are  necessary  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  life  or  health.  It  is  believed  that  in  no  other  in- 
stance will  nature  crave  strong  drink  unless  the  appetite 
has  been  vitiated  by  habits  of  intemperance.  In  such 
cases  the  sacred  scriptures  recommend  it.  Give  strong 
drink  to  him  that  is  ready  to  perish,  and  zuine  to  them 
that  are  of  a  heavy  heart. — Prov.  xxxi,  6.  Drink  no 
longer  zcater,  but  use  a  little  ivine  for  ihj^ stomach's  sake 
and  thine  oJiAn  infirmities.^ — I.  Tim.  v.  23.  Wiiile  on 
the  other  hand  the  bible  abounds  with  denunciations  and 
curses  upon  those  that  drink  strong  drink,  [Vid.  page  26] 
or  that  put  lA  the  bottle  to  their  neighbors*  lips. — 
Vid.  Mab.  ii.  \5. 

3.  This  subject  exposes  the  impropriety  of  the  prac- 
tice, still  existing  in  some  parts  of  the  country,  of  serv- 
ing spirituous  liquors  on  funeral  occasions.  It  looks  too 
much  like  the  relics  of  barbarism.  Let  heathen  tribes, 
who  have  but  iaint  ideas  of  the  immortahty  of  the  soul, 
and  wiio  have  no  correct  notions  of  a  future  state,  eat 
and  drink,  and  thus  drown  the  sorrow  caused  by  the 
deatn  of  their  friends,  but  let  christians  upon  such  solemn 
occasions  "  watch  and  be  sober."  There  has  been  a  plau- 
sible plea  for  ttie  practice  in  question  Some  cumulating 
liquor  has  been  esteemed  necessary  to  prevent  infection. 

*  St.  Paul's  recommendation  affords  abundant  evidence  that  Tim- 
othy was  a  very  temperate  man,  even  to  such  adcii;ree  th  »t  he  would 
drink  nothing  but  water  until  wine  was  recommended  Dy  an  i.ispii  ed 
apostle.  Nor  does  the  above  recommendation  afford  tne  least  room 
to  conjecture  that  Paul  was  an  advocate  for  the  constant  use  of  wine 
or  strong  drink.  On  the  contrary,  the  circu instances  under  which 
•he  recommends  it,  clearly  exhibit  his  viev.s  ot  the  suoject — viz.  that 
"ivine  ought  to  be  used  as  a  7ncdicine. 


28 

But  it  has  been  shewn  that  instead  of  preventing,  it  pre- 
disposes the  human  system  1:0  imbibe  disease.  There- 
fore, the  supposed  cause  being  removed,  it  is  earnestly 
wished  that  the  practice  may  henceforth  cease. 

4.  In  view  ot  this  subject  we  are  led  to  deplore  the 
existence  of  so  many  taverns  and  tippHng  houses  as  have 
been,  and  still  are,  in  this  county.  It  is  the  direct  way 
to  corrupt  the  morals  and  exhaust  the  wealth  of  the  peo- 
ple. Upon  this  pohit,  th<?  following  extract  fn.m  Judge 
Rush's  Charge,  already  mentioned,  is  entitled  to  particu- 
lar attention.  "  It  is  an  observation  of  sir  William  Tem- 
ple, that  a  multiplicity  of  taverns  is  an  evil  inseparably 
attendant  on  republican  governments.  From  which  the 
inference  does  not  seem  forced  or  unnatural,  that  in 
proportion  as  they  abound,  the  vice  ot  drunkenness  may 
be  expected  to  prevail  among  the  people.  Pennsylva- 
nia, it  is  acknowledged  on  all  hands,  affords  the  most  stri- 
king evidence  to  justify  the  observation  of  the  philoso- 
phical patriot,  and  every  day  exhibits  to  our  view  the 
most  painful  p roots  that  the  consequences  are  such  as 
might  reasonably  be  apprehended.  The  legislature  of 
the  state  have  indeed  candidly  admitted  the  inference 
from  their  number  to  be  perfectly  correct,  by  stating,  as 
they  do,  in  the  most  express  terms  m  the  11th  section  of 
the  law  under  consideration.  *'  That  a  great  abundance 
of  taverns  and  public  houses,  for  vending  spirituous  li- 
quorsjhas  been  found  to  promote  habits  of  idleness  and  de- 
bauchery." These,  we  are  taught  by  daily  experience, 
are  the  rank  soil  in  which  the  vice  of  drunkenness  shoots 
up  with  such  fatal  luxuriance.  These  are  the  polluted 
fountams  that  send  forth  constant  streams  to  corrupt  and 
demoralize  our  per>ple.  Here  our  youth,  the  growing 
hopes  of  our  country,  are  initiated  in  all  the  mysteries  of 
iniquity,  and  lay  the  foundation  of  those  destructive  hab- 
its that  never  forsake  them.  Here  they  are  taught  to 
praciice  the  dialect  of  infernal  spirits  and  to  rival  the  ve- 
ry demons  in  the  use  of  profane  and  blasphemous  ex- 
prcssi>  ns." 

i  he  truth  of  the  above  observations  was  never  more 
clearly  proved  in  Pennsylvania,  than  they  have   been^ 


29 

'Within  a  few  years,  in  this  County.  There  is  scarcelj^ 
>aby  path  ou  which  three  or  four  bouses  stand  contigu- 
ous to  each  otlier,  but  \  ou  may  find  i^Jiat  is  called  **  an 
Inn."  Aud  in  many  places  wliere  there  are  a  few  more 
inhabitants  you  will  tind  two,  three  and  four  within  a 
st'^ne^s  throw  of  each  other.  And  what  is  the  object  of 
more  than  one  half  of  them  ?  Surely  not  to  entertain 
travellers,  for  what  they  make  by  such  customers  would 
not  half  pay  their  excise.  They  are  set  up  to  entertain 
?i(fighbo7'Si  and  to  collect  from  them  a  few  sixpences  of 
their  daily  earnings.  And  how  have  drunkards  and 
profane  swearers  and  sab'oath  breakers  and  toivn-paupers 
increased  with  the  increase  of  taverns. 

Some  plead  for  a  multiplicity  of  tavei'ns  on  the  ground 
that  the  town-revenue  is  uicreased  by  granting  so  many 
licences. 

"  The  excise  is  fdtten'cl  with  the  rich  result 
Of  all  this  riot  ;  and  ten  thousand  casks, 
Forever  dribbling  out  their  base  contents, 
Touch'd,  by  the  Midas  finger  of  the  state, 
Bleed  gold  for  ministers  to  sport  away. 
Drink,  and  be  mad,  then  ;  tis  your  country  bids  I 
Gloriously  dr^k,  obey  the  important  call  1 
fier  cause  demands  the  assistance  of  your  throats, 
Ye  ail  can  swallow  and  she  asks  no  more." 

COWPER. 

This  plea  is  almost  too  simple  to  merit  an  answer.     It 

'is  sufficient  to  observe,  that  aside  from  the  demoralizing 

etfects  ot  a  multiplicity  of  taverns,  they  greatly  increase 

the  number  of  paupers  and   consequently   enlarge   the 

taxes  of  the  people.^ 

5.  This  subject  teaches  the  duty  of  tavern  keepers  and 
other  retailers  of  ardent  spirits.  If  nothing  but  the 
truth  have  been  exhibited  in  this  discourse  it  is  their  du- 


*  The  following  anecdote  is  a  fact.  An  aged  man  who  had  a 
number  of  intemperate  s>uns,  complained  to  a  commissioner  of  ex- 
cise that  he  had  licensed  too  many  taverns.  The  Commissioner  re- 
plied, Oh  1  they  all  help  to  diminish  your  taxes.  Ah,  said  the  old 
man,  you  do  not  consider  that  they  arc  bringing  all  my  sons  upon  the 
to^yn. 


.    30 

ty  to  sell  ardent  spirits  to  no  one  unless  they  are 
satisfied  that  it  is  immediately  necessary  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  life  or  iiealth,  or  will  be  used  only  in  those  instan- 
ces ;  and  if  they  have  not  resolution  to  deny  their  custom- 
ers e:a}ept  in  such  cases,  they  ought  immediately  to  re- 
linquish the  enii)loyment,  and  if  necessary  seek  another 
calling.  But  admitting  that  the  doctrine  which  has  beea 
advanced  in  this  discourse  be  erroneous,  it  is  manifestly 
their  duty  to  observe  and  comply  with  the  laws  of  their 
country.  The  existing  law  ot  this  state  for  the  regula- 
tion of  taverns,  forbids  under  heavy  penalties,  any  tavern 
keeper  to  allow  any  species  of  gambling,  or  to  keep  any 
instrument  or  device  tor  that  purpose  in  his  house,  out- 
house or  yard  ;  to  sell  ardent  spirits  to  any  apprentice, 
servant  or  slave,  or  to  any  person  on  the  Lord  \s  day,  except 
strangers  and  travellers  tolerated  by  law.  And  yet  in 
defiance  of  this  law,  hov/  common  is  it  to  find  a  gambling 
b^'use  and  tavern  under  the  same  roof,  where  apprentices, 
children  and  servants,  are  as  welcome  guests  as  any  in 
the  world,  provided  they  have  inoney^  in  many  of  which 
more  liquor  is  sold  on  the  sabbath  than  on  any  other  day 
in  the  week  ;  not  to  strangers  and  travellers,  but  to  the 
prettnided  worshippers  of  the  living  God.*  Now  how 
can  a  man  pretend  to  be  a  friend  to  his  country  and  not 
conform  himself  to  her  wholesome  laws  ?  How  can  be 
expect  his  wealth  to  prosper,  when  he  has  obtained  it  by 
destroying  tlie  souls  and  bodies  of  his  neighbors  }  And 
how  can  he  hope  lor  heaven  ;  wlien  the  very  house  in 
which  he  lives  is  the  gate  of  hell  and  multitudes  have 
gone  there  tln'ough  it  ? 

What  claim  can  those  have  to  humanity  who  will  sell 
liquor  to  a  man  already  intoxicated  ?  The  usual  plea  is 
"  ill  do  not  let  him  have  it  another  will."  But  would 
you  consider  an  Apothecary  innocent,  who  would  sell  a 

*  It  is  said  to  be  no  uncommon  thins^  in  some  congregat.ir>n<j  in 
this  county  for  proicssing-  christians  lo  visit  the  tavern  and  cull  lor 
iiquor  Jn^ the  recess olpubiic  worsnip  on  tlie  Lord\s  day.  Wc  would 
'■  y,7ell  it  not  in  Gath,  publish  it  not  in  the  streets  of  Askelon,  did 
V.  e  not  iiope  that  tiie  pubiica'don  of  it  v/iii  work  u  reformation  in  thoi^e 
inconsiderate  pvofestiors. 


31 

dose  of  poison  to  a  man,  knowing  that  lie  liad  (Jetermined 
to  destroy  himself  with  it  ?     Would  the  plea  tljat  tliere 
were  many  others  in  the  same   place   who   would   have 
furnTshed  him  with  the  fatal  means  of  destruction,  satis- 
fy your  minds  and  convince  you  that  he  did  ri^dit  ?   Would 
it  Ik?  right  for  }'ou  to  furnish  a  man  with  a  lialter,  a  knile 
or  a  })istol  to  take  his  own  life  ?  You  probably  would  not 
do  it  ?  And  why  ?  If  you  refused,  he  could  perhaps  ob- 
tain his  desire  of  some  of  your  neighbors.     Is  it  because 
there  is  no  profd  in  lending  an  instrument  of  death  ?  Are 
5'ou  willing,  then,  for  the  profit  on  a  pint  of  rum,  to  be 
accessary  to  the  death  of  a  fellow  creature?      And  is  it 
this  and  this  alone  that  makes  you  run  the  awful  risque 
in  a  thousand  instances  ?  What  would  be  your  sensations, 
a  few  hours  after  you  had  sold  liquor  to  a  person  in  those 
circumstances  to  find  him  dead  near  your  house  ?  Could 
such  an  event  take  place,  without  awakening  your  con- 
science ?     How  often  would  you  wish  that  you  had  re- 
fused the  liquor,  though  you  knew  it  might  liave  been 
obtained  of  your  next  neighbor  ?  You  would  then  real- 
ize that  the  misconduct  of  others  is  no  licence  for  you  to 
do  wrong.     Therefore  let  every  man  reform  himself  and 
if  he  cannot  prevent  others  from  sinning,   to  their  own 
master  they  stand  or  fall  j  but  let  him  beware  hovv  he  be- 
comes a  partaker  in  their  evil  deeds. 

6.  This  subject  points  out  the  road  to  long  life,  riches 
and  honor. 

The  most  of  men  are  anxious  to  live  to  old  age.  When 
sick  they  will  incur  any  expence  to  regain  their  healtli. 
And  yet  alas  1  many  spend  a  whole  estate  to  procure  a 
premature  dissolution.  Doubtless  it  is  a  fact  that  ardent 
spirits  whether  taken  in  moderate  or  immoderate  quanti- 
ties, tend  to  shorten  human  life.  A  man  who  becomes  a 
sot  in  early  life  must  not  expect  "  to  live  out  half  iiis 
days."  One  who  is  mighty  to  drink  strong  drink, 
though  he  may  seldom  be  mtoxicated  ought  to  calculate 
to  have  ten  or  fifteen  }  ears  cut  off  from  the  end  of  his  life. 
To  controvert  this  doctrine,  instances  of  longevity  among 
intemperate  men  are  produced.  There,  says  one  was  my 
neighbor  — ,he  lived  to  be  almost  four-score,  and  yet  he 


32 

t^r^s intemperate  from  his  youth.  There  Is  another  near-' 
]y  three  score  and  ten,  he  drinks  his  pint  a-day,  and  yet 
he  is  as  strong  and  active  and  can  do  as  much  work  as 
any  one  of  his  age,  &c.  &c.  It  will  he  observed  that  there 
is  no  propriety  in  producing  such  facts  as  objections,  unless 
they  are  accompanied  with  evidence  that  these  same  per- 
sons would  have  lived  no  longer  had  they  been  ever  so 
temperate.  But  this  cannot  be  done ;  on  the  contrary 
judging  from  the  manifest  effects  of  ardent  spirits,  it  is 
believed  that  these  same  persons  had  unusually  good  con- 
stitutions; and  had  they  been  temperate,  might  have  lived 
more  than  a  century.  Such  instances  of  great  longevity 
do  sometimes  occur  in  our  country,  and  it  is  presumed 
they  would  be  more  frequent  if  all  our  citizens  were  tem- 
perate. Therefore,  when  one  among  many  intemperate 
men  happens  to  live  to  old  age,  instead  of  proving  that 
his  intemperance  has  not  shortened  his  life,  it  evidently 
shews  that  he  has  abused  the  best  constitution  God  ever 
gave  to  man  in  his  generation,  which  might  have  contin- 
ued active  and  strong  15,  'iJO  or  even  30  years  longer  but 
for  his  beastly  intemperance.     Therefore  if  you  wish  for 

long  life,  BE  TEMPERATE. 

Every  body  is  anxious  to  possess  a  large  estate.  No 
object  occupies  the  attention  and  engages  the  exertions 
of  mankind  more  generally  and  constantly  than  this. 
For  the  attainment  of  this  many  "  rise  up  eaily,  sit  up 
late,  and  eat  the  bread  of  sorrow"  toil  indefatigably  and 
yet  fall  in  arrears.  The  great  difficulty  is  they  spend  all 
their  earnings  for  ardent  spirits.  It  is  probable  that  the 
people  of  this  County  are  200,000  dollars  poorer  every 
year  in  consequence  of  this  pernicious  liquor.  Let  all 
cease  to  drink  it,  and  as  a  community  we  will  speedily  be 
relieved  from  many  pecuniary  embarrassments.  There- 
fore if  yo\i  wish  to  be  rich,  be  temperate. 

Every  one  is  covcrtous  of  the  respect  of  his  fellow  men. 
But  a  drunkard  can  never  expect  it.  His  character  is. 
most  despicable  in  the  view  ot  all  mankind.  However 
rich,  however  learned,  however  exalted  in  situation  he 
may  be,  no  one  can  repose  confidence  in  him.  On  the 
contrary,  a  temperate  man,  be  he  ever  so  poor  or  igno-^ 


33 

rant  is  n  rospoctable  character  iii  the  ci;tiination  of  all 
wise  and  good  men.  llierefore  if  yon  wish  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  yonr  fellow  men,  be  temperate. 

7.  This  snhjeet  teacljes  us  our  duty  as  iriends  to  man- 
kind, as  profess  )rs  of  Christianity,  and  as  ministers  of  tiie 
gospel. 

1.  As  friends  to  mankind.  If  we  wish  well  to  the  hu- 
man famply,  we  must  cease  to  drink,  and  to  invite  others 
to  drink  ardent  spirits  In  so  doing,  we  shall  contribute 
to  preserve  many  from  disease  and  premature  death— we 
shall  uphoKI  aiduy  innocent  victims  from  infamy,  disgrace 
and  poverty — we  shall  promote  domestic  happiness  as 
"vved  as  the  peace  of  neigliborhoods,  and  we  shall  proba- 
bly be  instrumental  in  the  salvation  of  many  souls,  which 
would  otherwise  have  been  eternally  lost. 

To  as>ist  in  accomplishing  these  important  objects  we 
ought  to  use  every  lawful  means  in  our  power  to  diminish 
the  facility  with  which  ardent  spirits  are  obtained.  In  ef- 
fecting this  mucli  may  be  done  by  enforcing  the  salutary 
laws  of  our  Country.  AVe  ought  not  from  a  revengeful 
or  covetous  disposition  to  complain  of  tavern  and  store 
keepers*  for  a  breach  of  those  laws  ;  but  it  is  manifestly 
our  duty  to  see  the  laws  executed  when  they  are  trans- 
gressed before  our  eyes.  Truly  it  is  a  disagreeable  task 
to  complain  of  our  neighbors,  but  if  our  laws  are  just,  and 
we  are  friends  to  the  government,  how  can  we  see  them 
broken  with  impunity  ?f 

*  Some  of  tliis  class  in  the  country,  it  is  believed  are  g^reater  nui- 
sances to  the  public  than  any  of  the  former.  They  usually  sell  liquor 
in  larger  quantities,  at  a  much  lower  pnce,  and  in  open  violation  of  the 
law  permit  it  to  be  drank  in  their  stores.  Hence  when  men  meet  at 
one  of  these  places  they  usually  drink  twice  as  much  as  they  would 
at  a  tavern. 

t  People  in  general  pass  over  many  breaches  of  the  law  for  fear  of 
making  personal  enemies  should  they  enter  complaint.  Without 
shewing  the  impropriety  of  being  inlluenced  by  such  a  principle,  it 
may  be  observed  that  this  difficulty  may  be  in  a  great  measure  obvia- 
ted by  a  number  of  persons  entering  into  an  association  for  the  pur- 
pose of  executing  those  laws.  In  this  case  all  complaints  would  be 
entered  in  the  name  of  the  association  and  therefore  no  ii.ilividual 
would  be  the  particular  object  of  malevolence.  • 


34 

This  subject  claims  the  special  attention  of  those  ta- 
vern-ket  pers  and  other  retailers  of  strong  drink,  who  in 
their  calhnghave  violated  the  laws  of  God  and  disregarded 
the  laws  ofthe  state.  We  hope  they  have  not  declared 
open  war  with  the  hnman  family,  and  resolved  to  extir- 
pate them  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  But  what,  breth- 
ren, are  you  doing,  and  what  have  you  been  doing  these 
many  years  ?  Have  you  not  been  casting  fire-brands, 
arrows  and  death,  all  around  you  ;  and  peopling  the  re- 
gions of  eternal  despair.''  Could  you  once  see  the  evils 
which  you  have  been  nourishing  and  spreading  around 
you,  ifyou  have  one  particle  of  love  for  the  human  race, 
metliinks  you  would  weep  tears  of  blood.  Look  around 
for  a  moment  and  behold  the  etfects  of  what  you  have 
done.  There  are  several  of  your  neighbors  falling  in  ar- 
rears every  year.  Their  farms  lie  open  to  the  commons, 
their  housesfalling  to  the  ground,  and  their  children  cloth- 
ed in  rags,  growing  up  without  morals  or  education. — 
You  knov/  the  cause.  They  have  been  your  daily  cus- 
tomers and  you  never  denied  them  because  they  came 
with  mnney  in  their  hands,  or  you  have  a  mortgage  upon 
their  premises.  Another  of  your  neighbors  is  frequently 
picked  up  HI  the  streets.  This  never  happens  but  when 
he  has  been  at  your  house.  Another  gets  drunk — beats 
his  wife  and  chifdren,and  then  turns  them  out  of  doors.  A 
few  lioms  before  this,  you  had  replenished  his  bottle. — 
You  see  men  profaning  the  Sabbath — you  hear  them 
swearlno  and  cursing  in  the  streets.  Remember  they 
learned  these  vices  under  your  roof  The  public  peace 
is  often  disturbed — and  where  do  these  disasters  occur  ^ 
Nine  times  in  ten  within  sight  of  your  houses.  And 
could  your  eyes  penetrate  the  dark  regions  of  hell,  doubt- 
less, you  would  behold  many  there,  suflering  the  pain 
of  eternal  fire,  who,  but  for  you,  might  have  been  still 
alive  or  enjoying  endless  felicity  in  the  kingdom  of  glory. 
Can  you  contemplate  these  evils  without  having  your 
hearts  filled  with  sorrow^  ?  And  if  you  are  now  pained 
at  ther^cita!,what  willyou  dowhenyou  meet  your  injured, 
vvretched,  lost,  eternally  undone  fellow-creatures  at  the 
biw  of  God  ?     How  will  you  be  able  to  stand  before  their 


35 

heavy  accusations  when  they  cry  out  "  You  were  the 
mean  of  bringing  me  into  this  wretched  place  !  Under 
your  rnof  I  learned  to  drink,  and  swear,  and  Jie,  and 
work  every  other  abomination."  How  dreadliil  your  fate 
should  you  be  their  eternal  companions,  and  be  forever 
tormented  with  their  constant  accusations  !  But  shouid 
you  be  so  happy  as  to  be  found  among  tlic  redeemed  of 
the  Lord,  if  a  pang  of  sorrow  could  ever  enter  a  celestial 
mind  it  must  be  at  such  an  interview. 

Brethren,  be  intreated  to  stop.  Hitherto  you  have 
done  much  harm.  Henceforth  endeavor  to  do  good. 
Reform  your  hearts,  reform  your  lives,  reform  your  hou- 
ses. And  if  you  have  not  resolution  to  keep  your  stores 
or  taverns  under  the  proposed  regulations,  relnuuiish  the 
employment.  Our  country  is  wide  and  there  are  many 
other  occupations  to  afford  you  a  liveliliood.  You  had 
better  go  into  the  wilderness  and  live  and  die  in  obscuri- 
ty, than  to  continue  your  em()loyment  in  the  present  lat- 
itude of  indulgence,  and  be  instrumental  in  destroying  the 
souls  and  bodies  of  your  fellow-men. 

2.  Our  duty  as  christians.  The  church  is  a  body  com- 
posed of  persons  who  were  once  of  various  characters. — 
The  time  has  been  when  some  of  them  were  addicted  to 
intemperance,  and  even  now  they  are  occasionally  betray-^ 
ed  into  that  sin.  The  manner  in  which  that  lamentai)le 
circumstance  usually  takes  place,  is  the  following  :  They 
are  in  the  habits  of  using  a  little  spirits  daily,  as  their 
brethren  in  general  do.  Sometimes  they  find  the  liquor 
highly  agreeable,  and  themselves  feeble  in  resisting  temp- 
tation. They  taste  again — their  old  thirst  returns 
— they  lose  all  command  of  themselves,  and  before  they 
reflect  upon  the  awful  consequences,  they  are  intoxicated. 
Now  is  it  not  probable  that  this  blot  upon  a  christian  pro- 
fession  would  have  been  prevented  had  the  person  not 
been  in  the  daily  habit  of  drinking  ?  And  would  not  a 
professing  christian,  who  has  a  thirst  for  liquor,  be  greatly 
encouraged  to  deny  himself  entirely,  did  he  know  that 
all  his  brethren  voluntarily  submit  to  the  same  privation  ? 
Is  it  not  a  fact  that  a  man  experiences  great  difliculty  in 
denying  himself  that  which  he  knows  his  brethren  use 


36 

without  restraint  ?  Let  christians  then  beware  how  they 
"  put  the  cup  to  their  brother  s  lips,"  It  has  frequently 
been  done  with  their //fl'wrf^--s5 ill  more  frequently  with 
their  longues,  and  in  ten  thousand  instances  by  their  ex- 
amnlc. 

it  is  verily  believed  that  tlie  rapid  increase  and  awful 
prevalence  of  intemperance  in  this  day  is  to  be  ascribed 
to  the  freedom  with  which  protessing  christians  use  strong 
drink  more  than  to  any  .-^ther  cause.  Ye  are  the  light  of 
the  world.  A  city  that  is  set  on  a  hill  cannot  be  hid. — Mat. 
V.  14.  Wicked  men  are  ever  watching,  and  they  gree- 
dily avail  themselves  of  the  example  nf  christians,  to  qui- 
et their  own  consciences  and  justify  their  wickedness. 
Hence,  avs  professing  christians  are  not  ashamed  to  go  to 
a  tavern  and  call  for  liquor,  sinners  are  not.  As  chris- 
tians in  visiting  each  other  are  not  ashamed  to  sit  with  a 
l)ottle  before  them,  drunkards  are  not.  The  consequence 
is  that  intemperance  with  all  its  pernicious  consequences 
irourished  by  the  example  of  christians,  is  spreading  and 
increasing  among  all  classes  of  society.  Christian  bre- 
thren, make  a  solemn  pause  !  Consider  v^  hat  you  have 
been  doing,  and  resolve  to  do  so  no  more.  You  deplore 
the  existence  of  so  many  taverns.  You  lament  whenever 
a  new  one  is  licenced  or  a  distillery  established.  But  re- 
member, though  there  were  a  thousand  to  one  of  these 
infernal  dens,  if  you  would  not  countenance  the  use  of 
strong  drink  by  your  example,  intemperance  would  not 
prevail  so  much  as  it  does  at  present.  It  is  therefore  ve- 
ry much  in  your  povver  to  check  and  diminish  the  pre- 
•valence  of  this  abominable  vice.  And  do  you  hate  sin  ! 
Do  you  esteem  virtue  ?  Do  you  value  tlie  souls  of  your 
fellow  men  ?  Do  vou  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ?  Do 
you  regard  the  divine  glory  ?  7'hen  surely  3'ou  are  ready 
to  make  great  sacrifices  to  attain  these  important  ob- 
jects. 

3.  Our  duty  as  ministers  of  the  gospel.  We  are  to  be 
faithful  not  only  in  teaching  our  people,  but  also  in  setting 
Lefore  them  a  godly  example. 

It  is  to  be  apprehended  that  ministers  of  the  gospel  in 
the  present  day  fall  short  of  the  apostolic  example  in  few 
instances  more  thai  in  that  of  temperance. 


37 

It  is  not  intimaled  to  be  our  duty  to  submit  immediate- 
ly  to  all  the  privations  to  wbicli  the  Apostic^did.  I3nt  tliis 
much  may  be  safely  afiirmed  that  we  ought  to  stand  ready 
and  feel  perfectly  willing  to  submit  to  all  these,  and  even 
more,  whenever  the  cause  of  the  great  Redeemer  shall  re- 
quire it.  And  it  is  confidently  believed  that  720:0  is  the 
time  which  calls  upon  us  to  abstain  entirely  from  the 
common  use  of  strong  drink. 

It  is  to  be  appreliended  that  many  a  minister  has  been 
instrumental  in  promoting  intemperance  among  the  peo- 
ple of  his  charge,  merfiiy  by  permitting  himself  occasion- 
ally to  use  ardent  spirits.  If  so,  will  he  be  free  from  the 
blood  of  all  men  ?  Let  one  who  sustains  the  sacred  charac- 
ter allov^  himself  in  theiiabitual  use  of  a  half  gilL  of  spirits 
a-day,  and  many  of  his  people  will  consider  it  a  sufficient 
warrant  for  them  to  use  a  pint  in. the  same  time.  Their 
avocations  being  more  laborious  than  his,  they  erroneous- 
ly conclude  that  they  need  proportionably  greater  stimu- 
lus. Hence,  upheld  by  bis  example,  their  intemper- 
ance increases,  until  they  become  confirmed  drunkards. 
And  alas  !  how  frequently  is  ii  the  case  with  members  of 
the  church  1  Sometimes  a  minister  himself  falls  into  this 
abominable  sin.  *'  If  angels  weep,  it  is  at  such  a  sight."* 
But  how  does  this  happen  ?  Merely  by  allowing  himself 
to  use  ardent  spirits  as  a  relief  from  fatigue.  He  has  fol- 
lowed the  practice  perhaps  for  years,  without  being  intox- 
icated. But  in  an  un propitious  moment  his  resolution 
forsakes  him  and  he  falls  to  the  disgrace  of  his  profession 
—  to  the  wounding  of  his  brethren,  and  to  the  great  dis- 
honor of  his  Lord  and  Master. 

Are  not  all  these  evil  efiects  in  some  instances  likely 
to  ensue  li'  mmisters  of  the  gospel  do  not  immediately  and 
entirely  quit  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquor  ?  li  the  disci- 
ples knew  not  wh^it  manner  of  spirit  they  were  of,  surely 
we  do  not.  And  who  knows  that  some' of  us  may  not 
fall  into  tliis  disgraceful  sin,  if  we  do  not  immediately 
cume  out  from  among  the  drinkers  of  strong  drink  and  be 
separate,  and  touch  no  more  the  unclean  tiling. 

^  Rush. 


.  38 

Unless  this  course  is  taken,  Low  sbali  a  minister  dis- 
countenance intemperance  among  bis  people  ?  Shall  he 
preach  against  it  ?  What  good  will  that  do  when  his  peo- 
ple know  that  the  moment  he  leaves  the  pulpit  he  will 
seek  refreshment  in  strong  drink  ?  He  may  reprove  drunk- 
ards and  they  will  feel  guilty.  But  what  will  he  do  with 
those  who  are  mighty  to  drink  without  being  intoxicated. 
He  may  tell  them  that  a  quart  or  a  pint  a-day  is  too  much 
for  any  man,  and  each  will  reply  It  is  true  I  drink  a  great 
deal,  but  you  never  saw  me  drunk :  my  employment  is 
laboiious  and  my  constitution  requires  more  stimulus  than 
many  others  :  a  pint  is  no  more  for  me  than  a  gill  for  you. 
You  are  your  own  judge  of  the  quantity  necessary  for 
yourself,  ;mkI  I  am  entitled  to  the  same  privilege  of  judg- 
ing for  myself.  Is  there  any  way  to  stop  the  mouth  of 
such  a  person  but  by  shewing  that  ardent  spirits  are  un- 
necessary ?  And  is  it  possible  for  a  mmister  to  enforce 
this  doctrine  by  precept  unassisted  by  example  ^ 

The  Apostle  Paul  in  the  exercise  of  supreme  love  to 
God  and  fervent  charity  to  his  brethren,  influenced  by  an 
earnest  desire  to  promote  the  Redeemer's  kingdom 
among  men  declared.  If  meat  make  my  brother  to  oflend, 
I  will  eat  no  flesh  while  the  world  standeth,  lest  I  make 
my  brother  to  oilend.  1.  Cor.  viii.  13.  The  true  mmis- 
ters  of  the  gospel  in  this  day  have  the  same  temper  of 
heart,  and  are  influenced  by  the  same  motives.  1  here- 
fore,  they  will  be  ready  to  say,  suice  rum  makes  my 
brethren  to  offend,  and  destroys  multitudes  of  immortal 
souls,  1  will  drink  no  strong  drink  while  the  world  stand- 
eth. 


[from    the    CONNECTICUT   CO U RANT.] 


'  n 


Messrs.  Hudson  and  Goodwin, 

I  find  in  the  Panoplist  and  Mission:\ry  Magazine,  of  October,  1810, 
a  letter  from  Rev.  Mr.  Badger,  a  missionary,  to  Rev.  Dr.  Holmes ; 
stating  the  following  facts.  Mr  Bad.eer  began  his  missionary  services 
with  the  tribe  of  which  he  speaks,  in  the  summer  of  1805.  In  his 
letter  aforementioned,  he  says  :  "  Shortly  after  my  arrival  among  the 
"  Wyandots,  I  had  opportunity  to  see  all  the  prhicipal  chiefs  of  the 
*'  nation  together.  I  determined  not  to  let  this  opportunity  slip,  with- 
*'  out  trying  some  arguments  to  dissuade  them  from  the  use  of  spirit- 
"  uous  liquors.  I  stated  to  them  the  evils  they  had  sutVcred,  both  in 
*'  health  and  property,  by  their  intemperance. — After  hearing  me, 
"  they  consulted  among  themselves  about  an  answer.  At  length  the 
*'  principal  chief  of  the  nation  addressed  me  thus  : — 

"  Father  listen.  You  have  now  told  us  the  truth.  We  thank  ijoufor 
"  your  advice.      We  have  agreed  to  drink  no  more  ivhiskcy^ 

Mr.  Badger  adds,  "  From  that  time  they  have  universally  abstained 
"  from  the  use  of  spiritous  liquors.'* 

Viewing  this  account  as  unquestionably  true,  I  must  consider  it  as 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  things  I  ever  met  with  in  the  history  of 
nian. — The  letter  was  written,  April  20,  1810  :  so  that  it  appears, 
those  druriken  Indians,  having  agreed  together  to  abstain  from  the 
use  of  spirituous  liquors,  had  already  kept  this  agreement  universally , 
for  the  long  term  of  five  years  nearly. 

It  is  obvious  to  remark  further,  that  those  Indians  were  induced  to 
break  off  their  habits  of  intemperance,  from  motives  of  temjioral  in- 
terest alone.  For  vath  the  higher  motives  of  religion,  they  were 
not  acquainted  when  they  entered  into  this  agreement ;  nor  does  it 
appear  from  the  letter,  that  more  than  one  Wyandot-man  had  at  last 
any  cordial  attachment  to  the  gosi)cl.  The  missionary  stated  to  them 
«  the  evils  they  had  suffered,  both  in  health  and  /iro^ierty^  by  their  in- 
temperance." Upon  this,  consulting  together,  and  becoming  fully 
convinced  that  he  had  told  them  the  truth,  or  that  llicir  intemperance 
had  greatly  injured  them  both  as  to  health  and  firojicrty^  they  unani- 
mously resolved  to  break  ofi'this  pernicious  habit,  and  manfully  main- 
tained their  resolution,  not  for  a  few  months  merely,  but  for  five  years 
to^-ether.  In  truth,  this  is  an  admirable  instance  of  sturdiness  of  re- 
solution ;  an  example  worthy  of  general  and  respectful  notice. 

Intemperance  is  making  awful  inroads,  at  this  day,  in  our  country. 
A  writer  in  the  aforementioned  Magazine  affirms  that,  '-a  pretty  ac- 
curate estimate  was  lately  made  of  the  quantity  of  \yest-lndid  rum 
consumed  in  a  year,  in  a  small  country  town  which  lies  somewhere 
in  New-England" — and  that  "  the  result  of  the  estimate  was,  that  ten 


# 


